Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has suggested that the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat withdraw scholarships awarded to Ghanaians abroad studying programmes that are run domestically.
During an engagement with the Management of the Secretariat, His Majesty was particular about the criteria for the award of the scholarships as he reacted to the huge debt that had been accumulated.
His Majesty was resolute that scholarships for study outside the country must cover programmes that are not offered domestically.
“There are a lot of universities in the country now. We should not offer scholarships for programmes that are already offered by universities in the country. Study abroad scholarships are not for showoffs. If someone wants to study a programme available here abroad, let him fund it himself
On that note, Otumfuo counselled the Registrar to bring back all students studying programmes run in Ghana to continue.
Additionally, His Majesty stated that the scholarships must be exclusively offered to brilliant but needy students.
“The scholarships must not be given to people who can fund their education but to those from underprivileged homes yet excellent.”
This was in response to a report by the Registrar of the Secretariat to the effect that Ghanaian students studying various programmes in the United Kingdom (UK) were being heckled by debt collectors over almost £40 million owed by the Secretariat.
Mr Kwaku Asafo Agyei, during a visit to the Manhyia Palace on May 30, 2025, said he inherited the huge debt from his predecessor.
“There is a huge debt. We owe the UK almost £40 million. As of December, we were owing them around £36 million. From December to June, the debt has grown to almost £40 million.”
Due to these debts, he said the institutions nearly blacklisted the Secretariat.
