Former Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang, has strongly denied claims by Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, who alleged he created a £32 million debt leaving Ghanaian students stranded abroad.
In an interview, the Abuakwa South MP described the accusations as misleading, politically motivated, and ignorant of the Secretariat’s longstanding financial structure.
He revealed that upon taking office, he inherited a debt of GHS 230 million (approximately $54 million), yet no student was sent home during his tenure.
Agyemang explained that scholarship debts naturally roll over because academic years do not align with the government’s financial calendar. “Scholarship debt is continual and moves according to the academic year… This is not new,” he stressed.
He praised the Nana Akufo-Addo administration for diplomatically addressing the inherited debt, ensuring that all students, including those in Hungary under arrangements initiated by the previous NDC administration, received support.
Criticizing the UK High Commissioner’s public statements, he said her approach was unbecoming of a diplomat and risked tarnishing Ghana’s international image. “Her Excellency is above this pettiness… Is this how Ghana’s liabilities should be discussed in the United Kingdom?” he asked.
He emphasized that recalling students would not eliminate the debt and welcomed investigations by security agencies. “I am waiting for them to do their work. And let me be clear, the money we are talking about is not in my pocket,” he added.
Agyemang also noted that the current government continues to award scholarships despite existing liabilities, arguing it is unfair to place sole blame on his tenure. He appealed to President John Mahama to intervene promptly to ensure students abroad receive urgent support.
Concluding, he maintained that the High Commissioner acted outside diplomatic norms. “The Envoy is out of order,” he asserted.
