GETFund is not for Needy Students Only – Getfund responds to backlash

The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has stated that the educational support fund is not limited to needy but brilliant students.

This is in response to backlashes from the Auditor General and concerned members of the general public for allegedly spending $4.7 in scholarships on some Members of Parliament (MPs), politicians and other affluent individuals.

GETFund explained that, by the law, the fund can be used to support educational exploits that serve the country’s interest.

“We wish to categorically state that the award of the scholarship by GETFund under the GETFund Act, 2001, Act 581, is not limited to needy but brilliant students. The fund may per its mandate, also provide support for such other educational activities or programmes to serve national interest”.

GETFund also denied awarding scholarships to some political actors purported to have benefited from the scheme under the Akufo-Addo led government.

GETFund saga

The Auditor-General recently in a ‘disturbing’ report, slammed the GETFUND for “unlawfully” dishing out more than $4.7m in scholarships to persons who are anything but needy students.

The report listed some 86 beneficiaries which included “Members of Parliament, politicians, media practitioners, lecturers, heads of institutions and associates.”

The list included;

1. The Labour and Employment Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah,who received a scholarship (£ 24,000) to study at the University of Portsmouth for a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Politics.
2. The Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo, who also benefited from a conference at the Harvard Kennedy School ($29,000).
3. The Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also obtained a scholarship at Harvard University in the US to study “National and International Security” costing $24,000, including living expenses.

The revelation by the Auditor General has sparked a public uproar on the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for persons in need.

The Attorney General report asserted that “The amount of money spent on foreign scholarships could have paid for many more Ghanaians to gain tertiary level education as intended by the Act.”

Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh