The Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) has moved to dispel concerns surrounding its ongoing Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise for Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries in the United Kingdom, insisting that the exercise does not introduce any new conditions or obligations for beneficiaries.

The Authority says the exercise is intended to verify scholarship awards, update beneficiary records and reaffirm commitments already contained in scholarship bonds signed by beneficiaries when they accepted government sponsorship.

The clarification follows concerns raised by executives of the UK PhD Cohort, who have been critical of the Authority over the administration of scholarships, particularly delays in the payment of tuition fees, stipends and other obligations to Ghanaian students studying in the UK.

The GSA, in a statement signed by the Director-General, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, dated August 10, 2026, said the exercise is being conducted pursuant to the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149) and the Oaths Act, 1972 (NRCD 6), in collaboration with the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom.

According to the Authority, the exercise is therefore lawful and forms part of efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure that records relating to government-sponsored students remain accurate and up to date.

The clarification comes against the backdrop of months of tensions between the GSA and Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries in the UK over outstanding financial commitments.

In April 2026, the UK PhD Cohort announced plans to demonstrate at the Ghana High Commission in London over what it described as prolonged delays in the payment of tuition fees and living stipends.

The students claimed at the time that some beneficiaries had gone between 15 and 40 months without receiving their statutory living allowances, while outstanding tuition fees had resulted in serious academic and immigration-related difficulties for some students.

The planned demonstration was subsequently suspended after the GSA announced that funds had been released to address part of the arrears. The leadership of the cohort, however, said it remained uncertain whether the amount released would adequately cover all affected beneficiaries.

By June, the students were again raising concerns, claiming that despite assurances that funds had been released, they had not received payments towards tuition fees or stipends.

The issue resurfaced in July when the UK PhD Cohort announced another planned protest in London, citing continued delays in scholarship payments.

It is in this context that the latest validation exercise has generated renewed concerns among beneficiaries.

However, the GSA insists that the exercise does not amount to a retrospective alteration of the conditions governing existing scholarships.

The Authority said beneficiaries accepted their scholarships subject to scholarship bonds containing specific obligations, including an undertaking to return to Ghana within two months of completing their approved programmes of study.

It explained that the current exercise is simply intended to reaffirm those commitments and ensure that beneficiaries remain properly captured in the Authority’s records.

“The Authority has not altered, varied or imposed any new terms on existing scholarship bonds,” the GSA stated.

“The obligations contained in the bonds remain exactly as agreed to by beneficiaries at the time their scholarships were accepted.”

The Authority further stressed that the exercise therefore does not constitute the retrospective application of a new rule, arguing that the commitments being reaffirmed were already binding on beneficiaries when they accepted their scholarships.

The GSA also addressed concerns surrounding Letters of No Objection issued to some beneficiaries seeking to remain in the United Kingdom under the Graduate Route after completing their studies.

According to the Authority, the letters were issued at the request of individual beneficiaries seeking to undertake post-study professional experience under the applicable two-year Graduate Route visa arrangement.

It stressed that the issuance of the letters did not constitute a waiver, cancellation or variation of the scholarship bond.

The Authority said the Graduate Route could provide beneficiaries with an opportunity to acquire additional professional skills and experience that could ultimately contribute to Ghana’s human capital development.

However, it maintained that the underlying obligation to return to Ghana remains unless it is expressly and lawfully varied or set aside by the competent authority.

On the outstanding tuition fees and stipends, the GSA acknowledged the concerns of beneficiaries and admitted that delays could create significant difficulties for students.

The Authority said it was actively engaging the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions to facilitate the settlement of outstanding obligations and remained committed to ensuring that legitimate payments due to beneficiaries are addressed.

It nevertheless maintained that the payment challenges are separate from the validation exercise and do not relieve beneficiaries of commitments contained in their scholarship bonds.

The GSA emphasised that a delay in the payment of tuition fees or stipends does not suspend the obligations accepted by beneficiaries under their scholarship bonds.

“A delay in the payment of tuition or stipends does not suspend the obligations contained in a scholarship bond,” the Authority stated.

The GSA said the validation exercise was not intended to be adversarial but rather to strengthen accountability, protect the integrity of the scholarship programme, ensure accurate beneficiary records and promote fairness and transparency in the administration of government scholarships.

It stressed that government scholarships represent a significant investment in Ghana’s human capital and come with responsibilities for both the state and beneficiaries.

While the state is required to honour its commitments to scholarship beneficiaries, the Authority said students are equally expected to honour the undertakings they made when accepting government sponsorship.

Against this background, the GSA has urged all affected beneficiaries to honour the invitation to participate in the Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise without delay.

The Authority has further warned that beneficiaries who fail to participate in the mandatory exercise risk forfeiting their scholarship awards.

“The Ghana Scholarships Authority therefore urges all affected beneficiaries to honour the invitation and participate in the Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise without delay,” the statement said.

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