The Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Mr. Alex Asafo Agyei, has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to launch a full-scale investigation into allegations that state-sponsored scholarships were sold to politically connected individuals.

The probe follows claims made by former government official Kofi Ofosu Nkansah during a radio interview on Sompa FM, where he alleged that some state institutions sold scholarships to members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other individuals to study in the United Kingdom.

President Mahama has since referred the matter to the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) for a comprehensive inquiry.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, January 3, Mr. Agyei described the President’s intervention as timely and necessary to protect the integrity of Ghana’s scholarship system.

He dismissed the allegations, particularly those linking the Ghana Scholarship Authority to scholarship awards for studies in the UK, insisting that no such awards have been granted under his leadership.

“For instance, if you take the Ghana Scholarship Authority, under my leadership as Director-General, not a single scholarship award has been made for anyone to study in the United Kingdom, as he alludes.

This position has been well communicated to institutions in the UK,” he stated.

Mr. Agyei further criticised the previous Akufo-Addo administration, alleging that irregularities plagued the scholarship scheme, including the issuance of what he described as “fake awards” by the former Registrar as recently as March 2025.

He stressed that the current administration has introduced reforms aimed at restoring credibility and fairness to the system.

According to him, scholarships are now being awarded strictly on merit, transparency, and equity, with what he called zero tolerance for corruption and political favouritism.

“The era where the rich, connected and influential cornered scholarships outside merit is over,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to accountability.

Mr. Agyei assured the public that any wrongdoing uncovered by investigators would be dealt with decisively.

“For every act of plunder perpetrated against the nation, full accountability will be demanded, and the time for reckoning is fast approaching,” he added.

The NIB investigation is expected to determine the veracity of the claims and recommend appropriate action.