The Registrar of Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Alex Kwaku Asafo Agyei, has brought to light a pressing issue that has left many Ghanaians concerned about the country’s financial obligations to international educational institutions.
Ghana owes a staggering £32,999,901 to UK schools in unpaid scholarship fees, a debt that has been accumulating over time.
Asafo Agyei urged Ghanaians who are eagerly awaiting scholarships to study in the UK to exercise patience as the Secretariat works tirelessly to settle the enormous debt.
“If my party people and other stakeholders call me concerning scholarships for relatives to the UK, I tell them to calm down for now because Ghana owes the United Kingdom £32 million,” he stated.
The debt, which Asafo Agyei inherited upon assuming office, comprises £9.9 million in tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic year, £2.57 million in legacy debt, £13.2 million in stipends for 2023/2024, £4.1 million in tuition fees for 2024/2025, and £3.1 million in stipends for 2024/2025. The Registrar noted that the debt has reportedly increased since he took office, underscoring the complexity of the issue.
Asafo Agyei emphasized that managing such liabilities requires a delicate approach, as publicly disclosing the details could have adverse consequences.
“My philosophy is simple: when you are appointed, you inherit both assets and liabilities. As a leader, my responsibility is to find a way forward and solutions,” he said.
He added that some of the financial challenges facing the Secretariat are sensitive and, if exposed to the public, could have far-reaching effects.
The UK is not the only country affected by Ghana’s scholarship arrears. Asafo Agyei revealed that Ghana also owes significant sums to institutions in Hungary, Cuba, Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and several other countries.
“This is not the only arrears owed by the Secretariat. The figures mentioned are limited to the UK; other countries are also owed, including Hungary, Cuba, Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and many others. Recently, Morocco and Algeria have publicly stated that Ghana owes them 11 months of unpaid scholarship funds,” he disclosed.
