Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, has categorically stated that the Ghana High Commission will proceed with its planned verification and oath-taking exercise for PhD scholars sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA), despite mounting opposition from the beneficiary leadership.
The exercise, scheduled for the coming weeks, is designed to reaffirm the scholars’ contractual obligation to return to Ghana upon the completion of their doctoral studies. However, the move has triggered a fierce backlash from student leaders, who argue that the requirement is discriminatory, redundant, and an attempt to impose retroactive conditions on already-binding agreements.
The Core Dispute
In a statement issued on Friday, August 7, the leadership of the UK-based scholars contended that they had already signed comprehensive bonds with the GSA, legally committing them to repatriate after their studies. They described the new oath-taking initiative as an unnecessary duplication that unfairly singles out PhD candidates.
But Madam Benson, in a robust defense via a Facebook post on Saturday, insisted that the exercise is not only legitimate but explicitly authorized by the very bonds the students signed.
Citing the specific bond document issued by former GSA Registrar Kingsley Agyemang, the High Commissioner pointed to clauses that grant the Authority the discretion to enforce “additional requirements,” including surveys and evaluations. She further highlighted a strict clause mandating beneficiaries to return to Ghana within two months of graduation, adding that failure to comply would render them liable for full reimbursement of all scholarship funds disbursed.
Counter-Demands and Financial Strain
The High Commissioner’s statement also shed light on a series of new demands made by the scholars, which she characterized as an attempt to hold the state to ransom. According to Madam Benson, the students have conditioned their compliance on the government meeting three distinct ultimatums: the immediate payment of all outstanding tuition fees and stipends, the full settlement of all financial obligations prior to their return, and a guaranteed reintegration package into the Ghanaian job market.
She questioned why these demands, which go beyond the scope of the original bond, were never raised during the tenure of Mr. Agyemang—who oversaw their scholarships awarded between 2020 and 2025.
“In the bond they signed, I see no obligation by Government to reintegrate them into society,” Madam Benson stated bluntly, dismissing the job-market guarantee as an unfounded entitlement.
Background: The ‘Huge Mess’ and Taxpayer Interest
The High Commissioner’s firm stance appears to be rooted in a broader cleanup of the GSA, which has been under scrutiny following the departure of Registrar Kingsley Agyemang amid allegations of financial mismanagement and record-keeping failures. Internal sources suggest that the “huge mess” referenced by Madam Benson pertains to widespread irregularities, including unpaid university invoices, inconsistent data on scholar progress, and a lack of effective monitoring mechanisms that left the state exposed.
With the GSA currently undergoing institutional restructuring, the verification and oath-taking exercise is being framed as a critical audit to ensure that public funds—amounting to millions of cedis annually—are yielding the intended national development outcomes.
“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 added, signaling that the government is unwilling to overlook past administrative failures.
Legal and Contractual Clarity
Madam Benson firmly rejected the students’ claim that the oath-taking is being applied retroactively. She maintained that the GSA retains the statutory authority to implement measures it deems necessary under the scholarship agreement, and that verification of beneficiaries is a standard procedural right.
She further warned that the government would not be bullied into abandoning the exercise, stating: “Scholarship beneficiaries cannot hold the state to ransom because they have benefited from public funds.”
Next Steps
Preparations for the verification exercise are already underway at the High Commission in London. While the student leadership has vowed to resist the initiative, Madam Benson has urged the scholars to take note of the government’s firm position and comply accordingly.
As the standoff intensifies, observers note that the outcome of this dispute could set a significant precedent for how Ghana manages its foreign scholarship programs and ensures the accountability of beneficiaries moving forward.
