There’ll be no accountability until scholarship secretariat is moved to Education Ministry — Kofi Asare

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch, an organization that promotes education in Africa, has expressed concerns about the way scholarships are awarded in Ghana.

He believes the current system of awarding scholarships is not transparent and accountable.

According to him, the secretariat responsible for awarding scholarships needs to be moved from the presidency to the Ministry of Education.

Mr Asare said this will ensure that scholarships are given to deserving students, and not just to the children of influential and wealthy party people.

“Until we move the scholarship secretariat from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Education, there will be no accountability. It will always be lamentations after the horses have bolted from the staple,” Mr. Asare wrote via Facebook on Wednesday, April 3.

An investigative report by the Fourth Estate revealed that many rich and powerful individuals, especially from the political class, are receiving scholarships to study abroad that were meant for needy but academically gifted students.

The report titled "Scholarship Bonanza" highlighted several bigwigs from the ruling NPP, such as former National Chairman Freddie Blay, whose daughter was granted a scholarship that should have gone to a deserving student in dire need of financial assistance.