New Ghana Scholarships Registrar vows reforms to end cronyism in awards
The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Alexander Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has revealed that past administrations of the scholarship scheme were riddled with favoritism, nepotism, and political interference, denying many deserving students access to educational opportunities.
Speaking on OTEC 102.9 FM’s Breakfast Show, Nyansapo, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Mr. Asafo-Agyei hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng described the old system as “unconscionable,” citing instances where entire families benefitted from the scheme at the expense of needy but brilliant students.
“In some instances, one person secures a scholarship, and along with it, the wife and all their children also benefit. This is totally unconscionable and unfair to other students who genuinely need support,” he lamented.
According to him, the scholarship awards were often influenced by “who you know,” with little regard for transparency or merit.
Lack of Transparency:
The Registrar further disclosed that reforms are underway to ensure scholarships are awarded equitably and transparently.
He noted that this system not only deprived bright students of opportunities but also left some beneficiaries stranded abroad.
“We have had cases where students risked deportation because their fees and stipends were not honored. These challenges stemmed from the lack of fairness and structure in how scholarships were administered,” Mr. Asafo-Agyei explained.
Ending Abroad Scholarships:
Among the new measures, foreign scholarships for courses already available in Ghana are likely to be phased out.
“We cannot continue to fund people to study abroad in programs we already run in our universities here in Ghana. The idea is to streamline resources so that every deserving student gets a fair chance,” he emphasized.
Mr. Asafo-Agyei assured that the Secretariat is committed to restoring confidence in the scheme, stressing that the focus will now be on merit, need, and transparency rather than favoritism.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
