Ghana is currently owing one billion cedis in scholarship commitments to the United Kingdom, according to the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Kwaku Asafo Agyei.

He made this known in an exclusive interview with Nana Kwadwo Jantuah on Nhyira FM’s Morning show, stating that deep concerns are being raised over the disappearance of Crown Agency in the UK, which previously managed short courses for Ghanaian beneficiaries.

“Ghana currently owes over one billion cedis in scholarships in the UK. This has to be paid to allow beneficiaries to access their tuition,” he stated. “The Crown Agency in the UK, which was responsible for organizing short courses for beneficiaries, has disappeared.”

Mr. Safo said according to an audit report, the previous government administration prioritized funding for short courses while neglecting regular academic programs, a practice that undermined the Secretariat’s core mandate.

“I called for an audit into suspected scandals at the Secretariat. The report shows that the previous administration prioritized paying for short courses while avoiding regular academic programs,” he indicated.

He stressed that the Secretariat has no responsibility to cover expenses for dependents who travel with beneficiaries. Yet, he claimed his predecessor unlawfully extended sponsorship to these dependents and even provided them with monthly stipends, calling it a clear misuse of office.

“The National Scholarship Secretariat is not responsible for the cost of any dependent who accompanies a beneficiary. However, my predecessors paid billions of cedis to sponsor beneficiaries which is unnecessary cost to the state,” he said.

Mr. Asafo Agyei further revealed that certain appointees in President Akufo-Addo’s administration were granted authority letters for 10-year visas, even though the short courses they were attending lasted barely two weeks.

Last year, it was reported that a group of Ghanaian students studying at the University of Birmingham, UK, were facing deportation after their student visas were revoked.

According to a statement from the UK Visas and Immigration, this visa cancellation was due to the students' failure to pay their tuition fees.

The majority of these students were on the Government of Ghana Scholarship Scheme, but due to the government’s delay in sending the necessary funds, they were unable to meet their financial obligations.

A letter from the UK Visa and Immigration Office sent to the affected students outlined their limited options: either leave the country voluntarily or face legal consequences, including possible detention and prosecution. The students were faced with the threat of deportation if no resolution was found immediately

“You still have permission until 09 November 2024, and the current conditions of your stay will continue to apply until then. Please ensure that you comply with these conditions."

"You now have until 09 November 2024 to either leave the United Kingdom (UK) or make another application to stay here. You do not have a right of appeal or administrative review against the decision to cancel your permission."

“If you leave or are already outside the Common Travel Area (the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) before 9 November 2024, your permission will end immediately, and you will have to make a new application to re-enter the UK,” part of the letter stated.

In contrast, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that Ukraine is committed to reinstating medical scholarship programs for Ghanaian students once the ongoing war with Russia comes to an end.

He made this known after separate discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Georgia during the Raisina Dialogue in India.

In a Facebook post, Ablakwa stated that Ukraine is keen on strengthening its educational partnership with Ghana and expanding bilateral agreements in the sector.

"Ukraine is seeking to restore medical scholarship opportunities and an expanded bilateral educational partnership agreement with Ghana after the war," he wrote.

The discussions also explored mutually beneficial agribusiness ventures, particularly as Ukraine works towards reviving its economy.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister reassured that his country remains committed to ending the conflict with Russia, stressing that Ukraine does not intend to be an obstacle to lasting peace.

Meanwhile, Ablakwa noted that Georgia was considering opening a diplomatic mission in Accra as part of efforts to deepen relations with Ghana.

"I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine and Her Excellency Maka Botchorishvili of Georgia for their warmth and great respect for Ghana," Ablakwa added.

The Deputy Director of the National Service Secretariat (NSS), Gifty Oware-Mensah, had been implicated in a recent exposé by The Fourth Estate, spearheaded by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure.

The investigation had unveiled the identities of affluent individuals who allegedly obtained scholarships meant for academically gifted but financially disadvantaged Ghanaians.

Per reports, Gifty who had denied receiving any scholarship, "obtained a government scholarship of GBP18,450 (GBP means Great British Pound) to study at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 2020 to pursue an MSc in Development Policy and Politics."

It said that she received the scholarship three years after she started working for the Secretariat.

According to the Fourth Estate, they reached out to her on January 19, 2024, and her response was “From 2019, my name has been Gifty Oware-Mensah. Let me call Kingsley [Agyemang] and get back. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me speak to them and get back to you.”

The Fourth Estate further reported that "She later sent a text message that she was driving to Sunyani and would revert. Subsequent calls to her did not yield result."

Madam Gifty is said to own Berry Ladies FC, a female football formerly known as Halifax Ladies FC, which is currently playing in Ghana’s women premier league.

In other matters, the 2023/24 NSS personnel are calling on the government to settle the allowance arrears owed them. Per reports, government has not payed personnel for the previous two months.