The Minority in Parliament has raised an alarm over alleged corruption within the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, an agency under the Office of the President, as revealed by recent investigations conducted by the Fourth Estate.

According to the Minority, the investigations conducted between 2019 and 2020 uncovered disturbing details surrounding the award of government scholarships, citing instances of political patronage, influence, favouritism, and other irregularities. 

The Minority made this demand in a statement dated Monday, April 8, 2024, and signed by Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education and Member of Parliament for Akatsi North Constituency in the Volta Region.

The Minority argued these scholarships, intended for deserving and needy but brilliant students, have been misused for personal gain.

The investigations reportedly implicated the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, and other officials in acts of extortion, bribery, and kickback collection. 

Shockingly, some individuals with financial means, including a medical officer affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), were allegedly awarded scholarships for prestigious academic programmes despite their ability to afford higher education.

Among the most concerning findings was the revelation that multiple scholarships worth significant amounts of money were awarded to individuals aligned with the NPP, sometimes for short training programmes abroad, in exchange for kickbacks.

In response to these revelations by the Fourth Estate, the NDC Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a series of demands, including the immediate interdiction of the Registrar pending investigations and a forensic audit of all scholarships awarded since January 2017 by the Special Prosecutor.

The Minority also called on President Akufo-Addo to take decisive action to address the alleged corruption within the Scholarship Secretariat and protect the public purse from further abuse.

The allegations have sparked widespread concern and calls for accountability, with many urging swift and transparent investigations into the matter.