The Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has revealed that security agencies are closing in on individuals suspected of taking bribes to secure government scholarships for unqualified applicants.
According to him, some beneficiaries under the previous administration paid as much as £10,000 to middlemen to be considered for free scholarships.
Speaking on Luv FM, Mr. Asafo-Agyei said the Secretariat’s internal audit, particularly into the UK scholarship programme, has uncovered “damning revelations” and fraudulent practices.
“I have spoken to some students who have admitted to paying money for the scholarship. Some have even volunteered to give evidence as prosecution witnesses,” he disclosed.
The registrar also revealed that fake award letters bearing dates as recent as March this year had been issued without his knowledge or signature, despite his assumption of office in January.
“Upon assumption of office, I changed letterheads with advanced security features. They didn’t know otherwise, they could have cloned it to legitimise what they were doing,” he said.
The Scholarship Secretariat is now working closely with security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. Mr. Asafo-Agyei urged the public to report anyone soliciting bribes in his name, stressing that “scholarships are free” and that he has no third-party arrangements for awarding them.
Reports can be made directly to the police or via the Secretariat’s official WhatsApp number: 0559285646.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat says it is prioritising the payment of debts owed to institutions abroad before addressing outstanding stipends for students.
