The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has said he was “needy” when he benefitted from scholarship meant for brilliant but needy students.

Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, in a statement said he “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 2012.”

“…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,” he wrote.

Dr Armah is said to have received £38,400 for living expense in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees.

Reacting to the report, Dr. Armah in a post said the scholarship precedes his assumption of office as NaCCA boss.

His comments come after a report from the Audit Service revealed government appointees, Members of Parliament and Ministers have benefitted from the GETFund scholarship meant for brilliant but needy students.

Below is Dr Armah's full statement

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 2012
3. 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.
6. 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.