The Education Minister and Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) have reacted to a report in which they were listed as beneficiaries of government scholarship programme for the poor.A performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the administration of scholarships by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), revealed, Dr. Opoku-Prempeh, Procurement Minister and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo as well as Prince Hamidu Armah, as persons who have benefitted from the scheme between 2012 and 2018.The Education Minister is listed as studying National and International Security at Harvard University, receiving $12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees, while Procurement Minister, Sarah Adwoa Safo is also listed studying at the Harvard Kennedy School enjoying $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in tuition fees.Dr. Armah studied Philosophy in Education at the University of Aberdeen, which comes with a benefit of £38,400 for living expenses in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees.However, the Education Minister in a release said the report is “borne out of mischief and lies, intended to cause disaffection.”Admitting being a recipient of a scholarship by GETFund in 2014,  Dr. Opoku Prempeh explained that that was for him to participate in a three-week programme at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University.“I have noted with dismay a news carried by some media, that suggests that I have as a Minister, received a scholarship from the Ghana Education Trust Fund for studies at Harvard.This impression is false and calculated to cause embarrassment and public ridicule. I have not received any form of sponsorship for any program or course of study from getfund of scholarship secretariat since becoming a Minister.However, I have been e recipient of  getfund award in 2014 to participate In a 3-week certificate program at .I urge the public to disregard this story, borne out of mischief and lies, intended to cause disaffection,” the statement read.The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, in another release, also described the publication as false” and “vexatious”.The release categorically states: “...under no circumstance has the Minister of Education, received any sponsorship fro GETFund since assuming office.”Similarly, NaCCA boss, Prince Hamidu Armah, said he secured the funding support before he became the head of NaCCA, therefore, denying the impression the publication sought to create that his application was granted due to his position.“...I urge the public to disregard this palpably false story that is driven purely by the worst political instincts that we must work to banish from my nation, while we actively work to expand opportunity and bridge the social and economic inequalities in our nation, a task I am fully committed to in my duties at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment,” Dr. Armah said in a statement.The full statement is published below:Statement from Dr Prince Armah in reaction to false media reportage about GETFund scholarship I have noted with disappoinment a news story carried in some sections of the media, notably myjoyonline.com and echoed on social media, which suggests that I abused my position as a government appointee to procure a scholarship from the Ghana Education Trust Fund for studies in the United Kingdom. First of all, had any of these media houses attempted the barest due diligence, including but not limited to a check on my publicly available records, they would have noticed that my studies at the Aberdeen University in the United Kingdom predated my entry into public service by at least three years. However, for the avoidance of doubt, let the following be noted.1. That I am indeed a proud and grateful recipient of a Ghana Education Trust Fund scholarship.2. That I applied for and won the scholarship in 2012 to study for a doctorate in Mathematics Education at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in 20123. That not only was this scholarship deserved, it was validated, if that were needed, by several awards and grants awarded by various institutions in the United Kingdom during my period of study 4. That in fulfilment of the promise I made, I immediately returned to Ghana after my studies, despite the opportunity and ability to remain in the UK to take up more lucrative appointments.5. That I believe that the scholarship scheme we have is best used to support needy students, as I was then, in order to give them a chance to contribute to the task of nation building, as I have done every day since my studies. In conclusion, I urge the public to disregard this palpably false story that is driven purely by the worst political instincts that we must work to banish from my nation, while we actively work to expand opportunity and bridge the social and economic inequalities in our nation, a task I am fully committed to in my duties at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.SgdPrince Hamid Armah, PhD  Executive Secretary National Council for Curriculum and AssessmentBelow is the full list of beneficiaries: