The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat is facing fresh scrutiny following revelations that public funds were used not only to support students studying abroad but also their spouses and children, including individuals with political ties.
In a recent radio interview, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, the newly appointed Registrar of the Secretariat, alleged that under the leadership of his predecessor, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the agency routinely extended full financial benefits to the dependents of scholarship recipients—an arrangement he described as “highly irregular.”
“What happened at the Secretariat was that when a student was awarded a scholarship, their wife and children were also added as dependents,” Mr. Asafo-Agyei told local station Nhyira FM. “The Secretariat paid for their visa processes, air tickets, and even allocated stipends. There are memos with official approval confirming these payments.”
One such case, according to documents reviewed by the current administration, involved a January 2022 scholarship awarded to Peter Mensah, who pursued an LLM in Law at Brunel University in London. The award covered £17,875 in tuition fees and £16,008 in annual living expenses. In addition, it included £8,160 per year for his spouse, Gifty Oware Mensah, the former Deputy Director of the National Service Scheme and a known figure in Ghanaian politics.
A letter issued by the Secretariat at the time confirmed that the scholarship package encompassed not only tuition and stipends for Mr. Mensah but also travel and living costs for his wife.
The disclosures have renewed public debate over transparency and equity in the allocation of state-funded scholarships—an issue that has drawn criticism from civil society groups for years. Critics argue that the system favors individuals with political influence at the expense of academically qualified but economically disadvantaged students.
Calls for reform have grown louder, with advocacy organizations urging the government to tighten eligibility criteria and increase public oversight of the scholarship program.
A spokesperson for Dr. Agyemang did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, established to promote access to higher education for talented but financially challenged citizens, has been under increased pressure to demonstrate accountability in its operations. The latest revelations are likely to intensify that pressure.
