Ex-Scholarship Secretariat Registrar Accused of Adding Families to Student Awards, Leaving £35m Debt

Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, has accused the former Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, of awarding scholarships that covered beneficiaries’ entire families as “dependents.”

According to her, the practice has left the Mission with a legacy debt of £35 million.

In a Facebook post, Mrs Benson alleged that under the former administration, the Scholarship Secretariat gave out awards to supposed students and extended the package to their families.

“Did you know how the Scholarship Secretariat gave out scholarships to supposed students and added their families as ‘dependents’ that the taxpayer was feeding and accommodating in the UK?” she asked.

According to the High Commissioner, the arrangement went beyond tuition and stipends for the student.

“I mean the whole family joined the beneficiary of the scholarship; their premium visa fees, air tickets, accommodation and chop money were all part of the package,” she stated.

Mrs Benson said the cost of the extended support was borne directly by Ghanaian taxpayers.

“Do you know who was responsible for that bill? YOU. Yes you! The taxpayer. Some of them had a wife and about four children. All being catered for by the taxpayer, in the UK because ‘daddy’ or ‘mummy’ is going to study abroad,” she wrote.

The High Commissioner linked the practice to the current financial burden at the Mission.

“No wonder I was left a legacy debt of 35 million pounds,” she said.

She further noted that some of the beneficiaries are now demanding payment of arrears.

“And guess what? Some of these ‘students’ whose whole family benefitted so much are now threatening to protest because they don’t understand why we can’t pay the debt of 35 million pounds?”

Dr Agyemang is yet to react to the allegations.

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