A growing dispute between the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) and Ghanaian PhD students studying in the United Kingdom has intensified after Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, insisted that a controversial verification and oath-taking exercise will proceed despite strong opposition from scholarship beneficiaries.
The disagreement centres on a planned exercise requiring government-sponsored PhD students to verify their status and take an oath reaffirming their commitment to return to Ghana after completing their studies.
Student leaders have criticised the exercise as unnecessary and discriminatory, arguing that they had already signed legally binding scholarship agreements committing them to return to Ghana. However, the High Commissioner says the government is acting within the terms of those agreements and has a duty to protect public funds.
Government Defends New Verification Process
In a statement posted on Facebook, Madam Benson argued that the scholarship bonds signed by the students gave the GSA broad authority to implement compliance measures, including verification exercises and other requirements determined by the Authority.
She referenced provisions in the bonds issued under the tenure of former GSA Registrar Kingsley Agyemang, stating that beneficiaries were required to comply with directives from the Authority and return to Ghana within two months of completing their studies.
According to her, the agreements also provide that beneficiaries who fail to meet their obligations may be required to repay the scholarship funds they received.
“The Ghana High Commission, acting on behalf of the GSA, shall go ahead with the planned verification and oath-taking,” she declared.
Students’ Demands Under Scrutiny
The High Commissioner also questioned the timing of the students’ objections, noting that many of the affected beneficiaries were awarded scholarships between 2020 and 2025.
She argued that the students were now attempting to impose new conditions on the government, including demands for:
- Payment of outstanding tuition fees and stipends within specified timelines,
- Full settlement of all financial obligations before returning to Ghana,
- Guaranteed reintegration into the Ghanaian labour market.
Madam Benson said these conditions were not part of the original scholarship agreements.
She specifically rejected the demand for guaranteed employment or reintegration support, stating that the bond did not obligate the government to secure jobs for returning scholars.
“In the bond they signed, I see no obligation by Government to reintegrate them into society,” she said.
Students Argue Exercise Is Unnecessary
The controversy began after the leadership of the UK-based scholarship beneficiaries issued a statement on Friday, August 7, opposing the introduction of the oath-taking requirement.
The students argued that they had already signed return bonds and questioned why an additional oath was being introduced.
They also expressed concern that the exercise was being imposed after their scholarships had already been awarded, describing it as an unnecessary administrative burden.
Madam Benson dismissed those claims, insisting that the exercise was not retroactive but rather a legitimate enforcement mechanism permitted under the existing scholarship agreements.
Taxpayer Accountability at the Centre
The High Commissioner framed the exercise as a matter of public accountability, arguing that the government has a responsibility to ensure that beneficiaries of taxpayer-funded scholarships fulfil their obligations.
She suggested that previous administrative failures had created significant challenges within the scholarship system and said the verification process was intended to strengthen oversight.
“We have our reasons for this exercise, and it is in the interest of the taxpayers for us to ensure that we do the right thing even though a huge mess was previously created,” she said.
She further warned that the government would not be pressured into cancelling the exercise simply because scholarship beneficiaries objected to it.
According to her, individuals who had benefited from public funds could not hold the state to ransom.
Broader Questions About Scholarship Administration
The dispute has drawn attention to broader concerns about the management of Ghana’s overseas scholarship programmes, including delays in the payment of tuition and living stipends, communication between the GSA and beneficiaries, and the enforcement of return obligations.
While the government insists that the verification and oath-taking exercise is necessary to ensure compliance and protect public resources, the affected students maintain that their existing bonds already provide sufficient legal commitment.
With the High Commission confirming that preparations for the exercise are continuing, the standoff appears set to become a significant test of the government’s approach to scholarship accountability and its relationship with Ghanaian students abroad.
