A Research Fellow at the Hans Ruthenberg Institute, University of Hohenheim, Sulemana Issifu, has made damning allegations concerning the Scholarship Secretariat.
During an interview on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme, he revealed instances where students purportedly paid significant sums of money to secure scholarships.
According to Issifu, some students claimed they paid exorbitant amounts, such as £5,000 in exchange for the promise of a £40,000 scholarship.
His revelation raises concerns about corruption and nepotism within the Secretariat.
“Students tell me that they pay huge sums of money. Some have told me that they pay as much as £5,000 in order to get a scholarship of £40,000,” he told host Samson Lardy Anyenini.
He said students also allege they paid up to ₵30,000 solely for a letter from the Scholarship Secretariat, which served as a guarantee for obtaining a visa.
This practice, he suggested, hinted at a larger issue of visa racketeering.
"The problems associated with the Scholarship Secretariat are enormous. There is a problem of nepotism. I’ve seen some individuals who have PhDs and they have still been offered scholarships by the Scholarship Secretariat to go do another PhD.
“So these are cases whereby there are many young Ghanaians who do not have the money to even get a first degree, but some have the luxury of doing a second PhD all under monies provided with our taxes,” he said on Saturday.
Conversations surrounding nepotism at the Scholarship Secretariat resuscitated after an investigative piece by the Fourth Estate, ‘Scholarship Bonanza’, named persons close to key government officials as beneficiaries of scholarships that it deems inappropriate.
Notably, children of the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a former Inspector General of Police were listed among the beneficiaries.
Many people have since condemned the act and asked for the Secretariat to be transparent. However, the Registrar maintains the secretariat did nothing wrong.
Latest Stories
-
Change is the only constant – Sam Jonah urges graduates to embrace AI
2 hours -
Usyk beats Fury via split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion
2 hours -
‘Heroism is not exclusive to men’ – Sir Sam Jonah calls for gender parity in leadership
2 hours -
Sam Jonah’s graduation address highlights role of youth in overcoming global issues
2 hours -
Ghana offers African Americans a path to healing and reconnection – Sam Jonah
2 hours -
Raymond Anokye Asante scores brace as Udinese U19s beat Napoli on penalties
3 hours -
GPL: Berekum Chelsea come from behind to beat Asante Kotoko
3 hours -
CAF African Schools Football Championship finals 2024 to be staged in Zanzibar
4 hours -
Ghana’s Emmanuel Dogbevi honoured with prestigious African Capacity Building Foundation Award
4 hours -
Chelsea win fifth straight title as Hayes signs off in style
5 hours -
AAFCON 2024: Black Challenge players leave for Egypt to defend title
5 hours -
MTN Ghana celebrates World Telecommunication Day with a renewed commitment to digital innovation
5 hours -
Leverkusen make Bundesliga history by ending season unbeaten
5 hours -
Pan African Media Lawyers Union launched to safeguard journalists’ rights at 3rd African Media Convention
5 hours -
Defe Defe: A ‘Testimony’ that Ghanaian gospel music can lead too – A Review
5 hours