Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, has alleged widespread mismanagement in the administration of government scholarship funds under the previous administration. She claims this led to the accumulation of more than £37 million (approximately GHS 560 million) in unpaid tuition and stipends owed to Ghanaian students in the UK.
Ms. Benson stated that excessive spending on dependants of scholarship beneficiaries contributed significantly to these financial obligations. She highlighted instances where allowances, airfares, and other benefits were provided for spouses and children accompanying scholarship recipients abroad. This expenditure, she argues, diverted funds that could have been used to settle outstanding tuition fees and living allowances for the students themselves.
This situation fits into a broader narrative of public financial accountability and resource allocation in Ghana. The country often faces challenges in managing its public purse, with past administrations frequently scrutinized for expenditure patterns. The alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds, if proven, could exacerbate Ghana's fiscal pressures and impact its international reputation regarding financial prudence. It also raises questions about the oversight mechanisms in place for such critical national programs.
In a series of Facebook posts, Ms. Benson cited specific examples of what she described as "reckless" expenditure. She noted one case where a spouse and three children each received £8,160, separate from the student's scholarship amount. The family's airfare alone reportedly cost GHS 90,000. She also questioned the award of a government scholarship to a 16-year-old for a private UK secondary school, reportedly costing over £56,000. Ms. Benson argued that money spent on dependants could have addressed the outstanding tuition fees and living allowances for legitimate scholarship beneficiaries.
The implications of these allegations are significant for both current and future scholarship beneficiaries. Delayed payments can cause severe hardship for students studying abroad, potentially affecting their academic progress and well-being. This situation also places pressure on the current administration to demonstrate its commitment to financial accountability and to clear the inherited debts. Decision-makers will need to implement stricter controls and transparency measures for scholarship disbursements to prevent similar issues in the future. The public will closely watch how the government addresses these claims and ensures the timely payment of student entitlements.
Ms. Benson further claimed that the £37 million in tuition fees and stipends accumulated between 2020 and 2025. She also cited another case where the government allegedly spent GHS 90,420 on visa fees, tuberculosis screening, and airfare for two students and the spouse of one beneficiary. These examples underscore the scale of the alleged financial irregularities.
Responding to planned protests by some Ghanaian scholarship students in the UK over delayed payments, Ms. Benson asserted that the current administration inherited substantial financial obligations. She stated that the government paid £3 million towards the arrears last year. The current administration has also settled first-quarter payments this year and is processing second-quarter payments. She insisted that the government is committed to clearing the outstanding debts while ensuring accountability in the scholarship scheme.