The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has secured scholarships for Ghanaians interested in pursuing short training courses and university education in different fields through a collaboration with some partner countries.

The Ministry, in a statement shared on its official platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, September 30, noted that all interested applicants can access the scholarships via the Ministry’s official website. Other opportunities shall also be shared on the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat’s platform for access.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that, through its diplomatic engagements, scholarships for short-term capacity-building training programmes and for tertiary education covering various fields of study are available to the Republic of Ghana for the benefit of its citizenry.

The links for these capacity-building training programmes are uploaded on the Ministry's website to make them more accessible to interested individuals. The Ministry also transmits scholarships received from partner countries to the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, to be awarded to qualified candidates,” the statement read.

Ot added that “Interested persons are encouraged to either visit the Ministry's website to apply for the available training programmes in accordance with published guidelines or contact the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat for available scholarships. Inquiries can also be sent by email to ipa@mfa.gov.gh”

The Ablakwa-led Ministry warned the public against engaging people that shall pose as middlemen to grant access to the said programmes. The statement highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring equal and quality education for the public.

“The general public is advised to rely solely on official information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat and is cautioned against engaging intermediaries to access a training programme or scholarship.

Affairs Ministry announces scholarships for Ghanaians

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to use this opportunity to assure the general public of its commitment to providing quality public service.

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 organising short courses for beneficiaries, has disappeared.”

Mr Safo said that, according to an audit report, the previous government administration prioritised 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 prioritised 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 an 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.