The Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has firmly rejected circulating allegations that foreign nationals are recipients of the country’s state-sponsored scholarships, clarifying that all beneficiaries under scrutiny are Ghanaian citizens who met the required eligibility criteria.
In a detailed statement released on Facebook on Thursday, Mr. Asafo-Agyei addressed the controversy, which has been a topic of heated discussion on social media. He described the claims as “inaccurate” and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public regarding the operations of the scholarship scheme.
“The claim that the beneficiaries in question are Canadian citizens is false. The individuals being referenced are Ghanaians by birth and parentage,” Mr. Asafo-Agyei asserted. He emphasized that Ghanaian citizenship is the non-negotiable, primary requirement for accessing the authority’s funds and that the individuals in question satisfy that condition. He added that portraying them as foreigners is “deliberately misleading and unsupported by facts.”
Beyond ‘Needy But Brilliant’
The Director-General used the opportunity to educate the public on the structure of the national scholarship programme, pushing back against the assumption that it is exclusively for the financially disadvantaged.
Mr. Asafo-Agyei outlined a “three-tier framework” that guides the awarding of scholarships:
- Financial Need: For applicants who are “needy but brilliant.”
- National Priority: For programmes critical to Ghana’s development.
- Merit-Based Selection: For students with exceptional academic records.
“It is therefore intellectually dishonest to create the impression that any beneficiary who does not fall within the ‘needy but brilliant’ category is undeserving,” he stated.
Breakdown of 2026 Allocations
Providing specifics to bolster transparency, Mr. Asafo-Agyei revealed the allocation for the upcoming academic cycle. He announced that 5,000 scholarships have been earmarked for 2026, with a significant portion—2,000 slots—strictly reserved for the “needy but brilliant” category. The remaining 3,000 slots will be distributed under the merit and national priority categories, in line with established guidelines.
He stressed that the authority’s duty is to verify Ghanaian citizenship and assess applicants against these objective criteria, rather than speculate on their background or family connections.
Addressing Legislative Concerns
Responding to arguments that scholarships should only fund studies in courses unavailable in Ghana, Mr. Asafo-Agyei clarified a legal timeline. He explained that such arguments rely on provisions from a new legislative framework that was not in force at the time the disputed scholarships were awarded. The new law was passed in November 2025 and assented to in December 2025, meaning it cannot be applied retrospectively.
Dismissal of Corruption Allegations
The Director-General also vehemently dismissed allegations that scholarships were being sold or improperly traded, challenging critics to provide credible evidence.
“The Ghana Scholarship Authority operates a documented and structured application and evaluation system. Allegations of corruption must be backed by credible evidence and presented to the appropriate investigative authorities rather than propagated through speculation,” he said.
Commitment to Transparency
Reaffirming his dedication to the integrity of the institution, Mr. Asafo-Agyei vowed that the authority’s reputation would not be compromised under his watch. He announced plans to further enhance public trust by publishing additional records covering scholarship beneficiaries from 2016 to 2024 in the coming days, making information more accessible to all Ghanaians.
“Let me state unequivocally that, so long as I remain the Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, neither my integrity nor the well-redeemed reputation of the Authority will be compromised,” he concluded.
