OSP Already Probing Scholarship Secretariat

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has already begun an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in the award of scholarships by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.

The Office disclosed this in response to a petition by the Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Osman Abdulai Ayariga to probe the Registrar of the Secretariat, Kingsley Oppong Agyeman.

It noted that the investigations began nine months ago and are still ongoing.

“The Office of the Special Prosecutor commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences at the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat circa July 2023. The investigation is active and ongoing.”

Scholarship Award Saga
The secretariat was established in 1960 as an extra-ministerial body under the Office of the President mandated to administer all government scholarships both locally and abroad with the main aim of providing quality education for brilliant but financially needy students.

However, the administration of the scholarships appears not to be serving the purpose of its establishment as it has been found by the Fourth Estate that the politically connected and influential friends of the current government, are the beneficiaries.

The media organisation’s report alleges that GHS237.5 million and GHS200 million covering both foreign and local scholarships were spent in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Out of that, it reports that at least 291,480 pounds sterling (GBP), 146,502 US dollars (USD) and 7,685 Canadian dollars (CAD) were spent between 2019-2020, by the Scholarship Secretariat on 20 influential individuals and the associates of the political elite.

Among the jaw-dropping beneficiaries are Dr Dennis Addo, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Claron Hospital, Gifty Oware-Mensah (née Oware-Aboagye), the Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Fawzy Ramadan, a relative and personal assistant to Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, Michael Ofori-Atta Jr, a relative of President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Celestina Amoako Atta, an NPP youth activist.

Source: opemsuo.com /Hajara Fuseini