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With the scholarship system described by many as opaque and driven by patronage, the two parties have promised to ensure full transparency in the allocation of scholarships in response to an investigation by The Fourth Estate into the operations of Scholarship Secretariat.
The investigations revealed that scholarships meant to support academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students were often dished out to individuals with strong political ties, including people from wealth and well-off families. The Fourth Estate also found that some of the beneficiaries received multiple scholarships while many deserving students were overlooked.
NDC’s pledge
In its manifesto launched on August 24, 2024, the NDC promised to overhaul the current scholarship regime. The party has committed to introducing legislation that will regulate the granting of government scholarships, specifically prohibiting political appointees from benefitting. The country’s largest opposition party said this will form part of its broader strategy to restore good governance, combat corruption and transform the education sector.
The NDC’s plan goes further, aiming to “align scholarships with national development policies, eliminate political patronage, corruption, cronyism, and nepotism in the award of government scholarships.”
In what seemed like a jab at the current administration, the party emphasises that it will ensure that government scholarships are reserved for the vulnerable and marginalised and awarded in line with the principles of meritocracy, equity and inclusivity.
Former President and flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, committed to exempting government appointees and politically connected individuals from benefitting from national scholarship programmes.
Persons with conflicts of interest will not be allowed to apply for scholarships,” Mr Mahama said. “I will not apply for scholarships for my children, none of my ministers will do it. Any political appointee must not apply for scholarships, you must pay for yourself. Leave the scholarships for the children of the underprivileged, those who cannot afford it are the ones who must get the scholarships.”
NPP’s Commitment
While the NPP manifesto avoided speaking about how it intended to address issues of the rich, political elite, and their associates benefiting from national scholarships, it promised to ensure transparency in the scholarship scheme. The ruling party’s manifesto highlights its commitment to publishing the full list of scholarship beneficiaries annually.
With the country’s scholarship schemes and student financing schemes currently scattered across multiple agencies, including the Student Loans Trust Fund (SLTF), Scholarship Secretariat, GETFund, and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Scholarship Scheme, the NPP promises to “integrate scholarship databases across all the public sector institutions managing such schemes, to ensure full visibility.”
During a recent media engagement, the NPP flagbearer and Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, reaffirmed the party’s dedication to ensuring transparency and efficiency in the administration of public scholarship schemes.
Background
The investigation by The Fourth Estate were based on analyses of data obtained from the Scholarships Secretariat through a Right to Information request. It uncovered how the Scholarship Secretariat had been awarding scholarships meant for underprivileged but brilliant students to the well-connected and affluent.
Among the notable beneficiaries identified were Dr Dennis Addo, the founder of the Claron Hospital and a member of the New Patriotic Party; Lucie Ekeleba Blay, daughter of Freddie Blay, Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and former National Chairman of the NPP; Gifty Oware-Mensah, the Deputy Director of the National Service Secretariat and Nana Adubea Asante-Apeatu, the daughter of a former Inspector-General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu.
The former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo as well as the Executive Director of the Institute of Education Studies, Dr Peter Anti, urged Parliament to enact a law to streamline the Secretariat’s operations to promote equity and transparency in the administration of scholarships.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament echoed these demands calling for the immediate interdiction of the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyemang.
The opposition Members of Parliament also urged the Special Prosecutor to conduct a forensic audit of all scholarships awarded since January 2017.
The Fourth Estate’s investigations revealed that at least 17 individuals received multiple scholarships which allowed them to pursue different programmes in two consecutive years or different programmes in a single year.
This means while some needy students struggled to secure funding for a single programme, others received scholarships covering two different programmes.
Eleven individuals received multiple scholarships in consecutive years (2019 and 2020), while six others were granted two different scholarships within the same year, either in different countries or in the same country. Amounts awarded ranged from GBP 13,250 to GBP 55,000 per school, covering tuition and living expenses.
Following these revelations, Osman Ayariga, Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat for misconduct.
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