Ghana High Commission to Proceed with PhD students’ Verification
Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, has confirmed that the Ghana High Commission will proceed with a planned verification and oath-taking exercise for PhD students in the UK sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA).
The exercise has faced opposition from representatives of the scholarship beneficiaries, who have described the requirement as discriminatory and unnecessary.
The students argue that they have already signed scholarship bonds committing them to return to Ghana after completing their studies and have questioned the need for an additional oath-taking exercise.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 7, the students’ leadership also raised concerns over outstanding tuition fees and stipend payments.
Madam Benson, however, said the scholarship bonds signed by the beneficiaries contain provisions requiring them to comply with conditions set by the GSA, including participation in surveys and evaluations.
She also cited a clause in the agreements requiring beneficiaries to return to Ghana within two months after completing their studies.
According to her, beneficiaries who fail to honour their obligations could be required to refund the scholarship funds they received.
The High Commissioner also rejected demands by the students for guaranteed reintegration into Ghana’s job market, saying no such commitment was contained in the scholarship agreements.
She said the agreements did not impose any obligation on the government to reintegrate beneficiaries into society after their studies.
Madam Benson questioned why some of the concerns raised by the students had not been brought forward earlier, particularly since the beneficiaries were awarded the scholarships between 2020 and 2025.
She also dismissed claims that the oath-taking requirement was being applied retrospectively, maintaining that the GSA had the authority to introduce measures necessary to ensure compliance with the conditions attached to the scholarships.
The High Commissioner said the Ghana High Commission, acting on behalf of the GSA, would therefore proceed with the planned verification and oath-taking exercise.
She explained that the exercise was being conducted in the interest of taxpayers and was intended to ensure that scholarship beneficiaries fulfilled the obligations attached to the financial support they received.
Madam Benson added that the government had reasons for introducing the verification process and would continue with the exercise despite the concerns raised by the students.
