Accra, Ghana — Officers from the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) arrested Afua Gyasiwaa Gaisie, the former Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, shortly after her arrival at the Kotoka International Airport today.
The arrest is reported to be in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged activities that took place under the previous government. Ms. Gaisie is currently cooperating with investigators regarding the allegations.
*Background to the Allegations*
The arrest of the former Deputy Registrar is linked to a wider and high-profile scrutiny and investigation into the operations of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the distribution of public scholarship funds. The Secretariat is a government agency under the Office of the President mandated to provide scholarships to academically gifted but needy Ghanaians, both locally and abroad.
These investigations, sparked by media reports and public pressure, revealed significant concerns about the Secretariat’s processes, particularly during the period in question. Key issues that have been brought to light and are likely related to the investigations include:
• Misuse of Public Funds: Allegations have been raised regarding the improper award of scholarships, which are intended for “brilliant but needy students,” to individuals with strong political ties or those from wealthy backgrounds.
• Irregularities in Awarding: Investigative reports, based on data reluctantly supplied by the Secretariat, showed instances where scholarships worth millions of cedis and pounds were spent, including granting multiple scholarships to certain individuals for various programs, sometimes in consecutive years or even in the same year.
• Political Patronage: There have been claims of cronyism and nepotism, where wards, children, relatives, and friends of political elites unduly benefitted from the public funds managed by the Secretariat.
These revelations led to widespread public outrage and political discourse, with the Minority Caucus in Parliament and anti-corruption activists petitioning authorities like the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to conduct a forensic audit of all scholarships awarded since January 2017.
The government has since indicated plans to restructure the Secretariat and overhaul the scholarship scheme to ensure transparency and merit-based awards. The arrest of Ms. Gaisie is seen as a development in the ongoing efforts to address the systemic vulnerabilities and alleged irregularities within the scholarship system.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
