Former Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, Hon. Kingsley Agyemang, has strongly dismissed allegations made by Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, accusing him of causing a £32 million debt that has left many Ghanaian students stranded.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Dr. Agyemang insisted that the High Commissioner’s claims are misleading, politically motivated, and ignore the long-standing structural nature of the Secretariat’s financial obligations.
“I Inherited Debt, Not Surplus”
Dr. Agyemang, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, revealed that when he assumed office, he met a debt of GHS 230 million, equivalent to about 54 million dollars, yet no student was ever sent home under his administration.
He stated that the Scholarships Secretariat traditionally carries forward debts because the academic year does not align with the government’s financial year, making it normal for liabilities to roll over.
“Scholarship debt is continual and it moves according to the academic year. Because tuition schedules often extend beyond the financial year, there is always an existing liability. This is not new,” he stressed.
According to him, when he took office under the Nana Akufo Addo administration, the President immediately moved to address the inherited debt in a diplomatic manner.
“At the time, the President called for immediate steps to handle the debt situation. Not a single student was sent home, no matter the financial challenge,” he said.
He added that the previous government even took responsibility for scholarship beneficiaries sent abroad through arrangements initiated by the previous NDC administration under Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa to Hungary.
“The NPP government ensured that every student was cared for, including those in Hungary under a deal signed by Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa,” he stated.
Calls For Diplomacy, Not Public Blame
Dr. Agyemang criticized the approach taken by the UK High Commissioner, saying her public outburst was unbecoming of a diplomat and risked damaging Ghana’s international image.
“Her Excellency is above this pettiness. She has been in the executive and should understand how these things work. Is this how Ghana’s liabilities should be discussed in the United Kingdom?” he quizzed.
He cautioned that recalling students in anger or panic would not erase the debt.
“Should all these students return home today, the debt would still exist. It is better for government to find diplomatic solutions,” he said.
Responding to suggestions of deliberate wrongdoing, Agyemang welcomed ongoing investigations by security agencies.
“I am waiting for them to do their work. And let me be clear, the money we are talking about is not in my pocket,” he said.
The former Registrar said it is unfair to claim that the debt is unique to his tenure when the current administration continues to award scholarships even though it is fully aware of the existing liabilities.
“We cannot say because there is debt, we should stop awarding scholarships. This current government has been awarding scholarships while knowing the situation,” he argued.
Appeal to President John Mahama
Dr Agyemang appealed to President John Mahama to intervene swiftly to protect students abroad.
“I am appealing to the President. We must handle this diplomatically. The students urgently need government support,” he said.
He concluded that the High Commissioner acted outside diplomatic norms and should have handled the issue with discretion rather than public confrontation.
“The Envoy is out of order,” he maintained.
