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Former Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has revealed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government inherited a staggering $86 million debt in scholarship arrears when it assumed office in 2017.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday, Dr Agyemang said the debt accumulated under the previous NDC administration posed a serious threat to the continuity of Ghanaian students’ education abroad.
According to him, hundreds of scholarship beneficiaries faced the risk of expulsion, withdrawal from their programmes, or denial of essential stipends due to unpaid fees.
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He said the situation required immediate government intervention.
“I inherited $86 million, and my government came to the aid of the students, and no students were sent home.” Dr Kingsley Agyemang
Dr Agyemang explained that the NPP government made clearing the arrears a priority to safeguard the academic progress and welfare of Ghanaian scholars in foreign universities.
His comments come amid rising concerns over the current scholarship-related debts. Ghana faces an issue that has sparked anxiety among students studying abroad.
Recent reports indicate that the Scholarship Secretariat is currently saddled with £38 million (about $50.6 million) in outstanding debt, a situation inherited from the last NPP administration, under Dr Agyemang’s own leadership.
This growing debt raises fears of potential withdrawal, visa complications and even deportation for many Ghanaian students whose fees and stipends remain unpaid.
Dr Agyemang, who now serves as the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene as a matter of urgency.
His call follows heightened public discourse after reports that some Ghanaian students in the UK and other countries face possible deportation due to the collapsing state of scholarship support.
This is not the first time the Scholarship Secretariat has come under scrutiny. Both NPP and NDC administrations have struggled with huge arrears, administrative lapses, and accountability challenges.
But the revelation of two major debts in 2017 and now in 2025 has renewed calls for:
- Reforms to the scholarship management system
- Clear criteria for award allocation
- Sustainable funding mechanisms
- Greater transparency to avoid political manipulation
As Ghana’s economic challenges deepen, the issue of supporting students abroad remains a flashpoint that could shape public debate in the months ahead.
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