Bring Back Students Studying Locally Available Programmes Abroad- Asantehene to Scholarship Secretariat

Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has suggested that the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat withdraw scholarships awarded to Ghanaians abroad studying programmes that are run domestically.

During an engagement with the Management of the Secretariat, His Majesty was particular about the criteria for the award of the scholarships as he reacted to the huge debt that had been accumulated.

His Majesty was resolute that scholarships for study outside the country must cover programmes that are not offered domestically.

“There are a lot of universities in the country now. We should not offer scholarships for programmes that are already offered by universities in the country. Study abroad scholarships are not for showoffs. If someone wants to study a programme available here abroad, let him fund it himself.”

On that note, Otumfuo counselled the Registrar to bring back all students studying programmes run in Ghana to continue.

Additionally, His Majesty stated that the scholarships must be exclusively offered to brilliant but needy students.

“The scholarships must not be given to people who can fund their education but to those from underprivileged homes yet excellent.”

This was in response to a report by the Registrar of the Secretariat to the effect that Ghanaian students studying various programmes in the United Kingdom (UK) were being heckled by debt collectors over almost £40 million owed by the Secretariat.

Mr Kwaku Asafo Agyei, during a visit to the Manhyia Palace on May 30, 2025, said he inherited the huge debt from his predecessor.

“There is a huge debt. We owe the UK almost £40 million. As of December, we were owing them around £36 million. From December to June, the debt has grown to almost £40 million.”

Due to these debts, he said the institutions nearly blacklisted the Secretariat.

The Secretariat, in response to this, has decided to suspend scholarships for study abroad to figure out a payment mode to clear the arrears.

“I went to President Mahama and he decided that we dealt with the staggering debt instead of adding more, by devising a way to go about the payment so we gain the institutions’ trust to admit new students next year.”

He also delved into the Secretariat’s almost $4 million debt to Memphis University, which may affect the signing of an impending MoU in August.

“The debt there has increased. It’s almost $4 million. The university told me that by August or September, an MoU will have to be signed, but they indicated that if we are not able to clear the debt by then, they might withdraw from signing the MoU,” he said, adding that students they are not heckled as in the UK.

This is not isolated to scholarships granted by the Secretariat, as he revealed that bilateral scholarships in Algeria, Morocco, Russia, Cuba, Togo, Benin, and other countries are facing similar debt crises.

“Due to the situation, I’m unable to send out new students. I am devising means to clear the debt so that the students find the peace they need to study abroad and come back to help the country.”

Mr Asafo Agyei, on that note, urged the Asantehene to intervene to help calm the situation so that the newly devised payment plan can be implemented.

“Though it borders on finance, we realised that the muscle of the government alone is not enough in this regard. We acknowledge that if Otumfuo intervenes, the UK institutions will exercise patience with us. I have already been there to submit a payment plan, but the fact that they have been failed in the past makes it difficult for them to believe us.”

Payment Mode
For the debt, he said his outfit will make payment in three instalments.

Ten per cent will first be paid in June, with the rest paid between June and December.

Meanwhile, Mr Asafo Agyei informed His Majesty about the overhaul of the Secretariat into an Authority.

According to him, President John Dramani Mahama has constituted a 10-member committee to develop a framework for scholarship legislation.

“When passed, the Secretariat will become the Ghana Scholarship Authority.”

He said two per cent of the total oil revenue and another percentage to be determined by the Board of GETFund will be used to fund it.

“It also gives us the opportunity to raise revenue internally.”

He, however, objected to the designated two per cent allocation, noting that it was inadequate.

“The amount doesn’t align with the current debt. We seek at least 5%,” he said and pleaded with the Monarch to intervene.

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/