There is a growing controversy in Ghana over how government scholarship opportunities are being awarded.
Critics have for a long time claimed they are disproportionately going to the well-connected rather than those most in need.
This has been heightened following an investigation by Fourth Estate which claimed scholarships are not reaching disadvantaged brilliant students as intended, but rather individuals with connection to those in authority.
The report dubbed “Scholarship Bonanza” revealed that several bigwigs of the New Patriotic Party ( NPP ) are being offered scholarships to pursue degrees abroad with others getting multiple scholarships.
In reaction to the report, a Special aid to Former President John Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari stressed that the intent of scholarship schemes was to assist brilliant students from poor families to access education.
In an interview on Accra-based JoyNews on Thursday, April 4, Ms. Mogtari urged persons who are privileged to afford their education to do so and leave the scholarship to the brilliant but needy students.
”It’s for very good reason the scholarship secretariat was created. It’s for those who are brilliant but cannot afford but it’s sad that persons who are doing well and can fund their ward’s education are now taking over. My advice to them is to leave it for those who need it”. She said.
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