Scholarship Secretariat saddled with £40 million debts in the UK, $10 million in USA

The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Alexander Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has made an urgent appeal. He asked the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to help with a financial crisis.

During a visit to Manhyia Palace, Asafo-Agyei introduced himself. He highlighted the Asantehene's global influence and his relationship with President John Dramani Mahama. He hopes this connection can ease the Secretariat's burden.

Asafo-Agyei revealed that the Scholarship Secretariat has significant debts. These include about £40 million in the UK and $10 million in the US. There are also arrears owed to Morocco and Algeria.

He pointed out that their budget of GHS174 million is not enough. “Our entire annual budget cannot even settle our debt to the UK alone,” he said. This leaves them with almost nothing for operations.

He described the hardships faced by Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries abroad. Many have been evicted by debt collectors or locked out of academic portals. Some have been denied exams, barred from graduation, or had certificates withheld due to unpaid fees.

Asafo-Agyei praised President Mahama for initiating reforms. The President formed a 10-member committee to draft legislation for elevating the Secretariat’s status. However, he noted that existing debts still cripple operations.

The President has committed 2 percent of Ghana’s oil revenue to the Secretariat. He also allowed internal revenue generation but those funds are still insufficient due to debts.

Asafo-Agyei requested that Otumfuo use his influence for more support. He suggested increasing oil revenue allocation from 2 percent to 5 percent to stabilize operations and continue scholarships.

In response, the Asantehene thanked Asafo-Agyei for his visit. He assured him of his support and pledged to advocate for increased assistance for the Scholarship Secretariat. He expressed concern over the welfare of Ghanaian students abroad.