Ghana's foreign scholarship programme has long been portrayed as a pillar of national capacity building—an investment in future scientists, engineers, doctors, and leaders. Yet beneath this noble narrative lies a troubled system characterized by inefficiency, corruption allegations, unsustainable spending, and outcomes that no longer justify its enormous cost.

Today, with most sponsored academic programs already available in Ghanaian universities—and with public debt rising—the nation must confront an uncomfortable truth: the Sponsored Students Policy is outdated, mismanaged, and no longer fit for purpose.

1. WHY THE CURRENT POLICY IS FAILING GHANA

Unsustainable Annual Spending Ghana spends hundreds of millions of cedis every year on foreign sponsorships. Expenditures such as GH¢237.5 million (2019) and GH¢200 million (2020) reveal the heavy financial burden. Yet the returns remain minimal — many beneficiaries do not return, and others struggle to secure roles that match their training. Mounting International Debt The Scholarship Secretariat reportedly owes about £40 million to UK universities. Accumulating such debts strains Ghana's reputation and jeopardizes future academic cooperation.

Students Blocked Due to Non-Payment Some sponsored students abroad have been denied registration or threatened with deportation because tuition fees were delayed, despite government releases. High Brain Drain Dozens of sponsored students do not return to Ghana after completing their studies, resulting in a total loss of investment and a depletion of high-skill talent.

2. CORRUPTION SCANDALS AND MISMANAGEMENT

The foreign scholarship programme has been linked to recurring corruption related concerns:

• Secret scholarship allocations to politically connected individuals

• Absence of transparent public application systems

• Questionable expenditures and inflated costs

• Payments made for unverifiable or “ghost” students

• Beneficiaries selected without merit-based competition.

These issues erode public trust and cast doubt on whether the programme serves national interests.

3. THE MODEL IS OUTDATED — MOST PROGRAMMES ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN GHANA

A major weakness in the current system is the unnecessary duplication of academic programs. Most courses sponsored abroad—including medicine, engineering, IT, business, public health, agriculture, environmental science, and social sciences—are fully available in Ghanaian universities.

Institutions like UG, KNUST, UCC, UHAS, and others offer internationally accredited programs at a fraction of the cost. Continuing to send students abroad for programmes Ghana can teach locally is economically inefficient.

A NEW UNIVERSITY-LED SCHOLARSHIP MODEL

Ghana’s evolving university landscape makes it both possible and practical to decentralize scholarship selection.

How the Model Works:

1. Students submit a combined academic and scholarship application to their chosen university.

2. Each university forms an independent Scholarship Assessment Team including academics, administrators, financial aid officers, and external observers.

3. Applications are evaluated on standardized criteria—academic merit, leadership potential, financial need, and alignment with national priorities.

4. Shortlisted applicants are invited for interviews.

5. Financing is shared: government covers academic user fees (tuition), while universities manage residential facility fees.

6. Scholarships are awarded in priority fields such as STEM, medicine, agriculture, digital innovation, renewable energy, and teacher education.

BENEFITS OF THE UNIVERSITY-LED MODEL

• Ends corruption-prone centralized selection

• Keeps scholarship funds within Ghana's economy

• Strengthens local universities and research capacity

• Reduces brain drain • Expands opportunities for talented but needy students

• Improves transparency and public confidence

• Creates efficient financial management through fee-sharing

CONCLUSION

Ghana’s Sponsored Students Policy has become expensive, outdated, and vulnerable to corruption. With most programmes now available locally, and with mounting public debt, reform is urgent.

A university-led scholarship model offers a transparent, cost-effective alternative that strengthens Ghana’s institutions and ensures public funds invest in Ghana’s future—not foreign economies.

The nation must choose transparency over secrecy, sustainability over waste, and local empowerment over outdated foreign dependence.