Ghana Scholarship Authority boss dismisses claims foreigners are benefiting from national scholarship scheme

The Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has refuted allegations circulating on social media that foreign nationals are receiving scholarships intended for Ghanaians.

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In a Facebook post on Thursday, the scholarship administrator described the claims as misleading and inaccurate, stressing that the individuals cited in the controversy are Ghanaian citizens who qualify for the programme.

According to him, reports suggesting that Canadian citizens were benefiting from Ghana’s scholarship scheme distort the facts. He explained that the beneficiaries referenced in the discussions are Ghanaians by birth and parentage, making them eligible under the programme’s core requirement of Ghanaian citizenship.

Mr Asafo-Agyei also used the opportunity to explain how the national scholarship programme operates, noting that awards are not restricted solely to students classified as financially disadvantaged.

He said the authority applies a three-part framework in awarding scholarships. The categories include the “needy but brilliant” group, programmes identified as national priorities, and merit-based awards for academically outstanding students.

He therefore rejected suggestions that students who do not fall within the financially disadvantaged category are unqualified to receive support.

Providing further insight into the scheme, the Director-General revealed that a total of 5,000 scholarships have been allocated for the 2026 academic cycle.

Out of this number, he said, 2,000 scholarships are specifically reserved for students under the “needy but brilliant” category, while the remaining slots will be distributed through the merit-based and national priority pathways.

Mr Asafo-Agyei emphasized that the authority’s evaluation process focuses strictly on eligibility requirements, including nationality and compliance with the relevant selection criteria.

He noted that once an applicant meets the conditions under the applicable category, the authority has no legal grounds to deny the award based on speculation about family ties or personal background.

Addressing another concern raised in public discussions, he explained that arguments suggesting scholarships should only be granted for programmes unavailable in Ghana rely on provisions from legislation that were not yet in effect when the scholarships in question were awarded.

According to him, the law establishing the authority was passed in November 2025 and received presidential assent in December of the same year, making it incorrect to apply those provisions retroactively.

The Director-General also dismissed claims that scholarships are being sold or improperly allocated, stating that the authority operates a documented application and review process.

He maintained that allegations of corruption should be supported by credible evidence and reported to the appropriate investigative bodies rather than spread through speculation.

Mr Asafo-Agyei reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the authority and said the institution would continue to operate transparently under the administration of John Dramani Mahama.

He added that the authority plans to release additional records detailing scholarship beneficiaries from 2016 to 2024 in the coming weeks to improve transparency and public access to information.

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