The Deputy National Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Osman Abdulai Ayariga Esq. has urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the activities of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat following recent allegations of corruption and misconduct against some leading officers of the secretariat.
The former President of the National Union of Ghanaian Students in a petition addressed to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng demanded the Office of the Special Prosecutor to conduct a comprehensive investigation into suspected corruption and related offenses within the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.
“1, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, a former President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and the incumbent Deputy National Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress wish to invoke your jurisdiction under Sections 2(a), 3(1)(g) and 79 of The Office of Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (ACT 959) to investigate all cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences unearthed by the recent investigative work of the Fourth Estate in relation to the award of scholarships by the Scholarship Secretariat”.
Osman Abdulai Ayariga Esq.
Mr Ayariga strongly posited that his call for the investigation of activities of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat is based on an investigative piece by the Fourth Estate coupled with damning audio recordings which paint a picture of systemic abuse and exploitation of citizens under the leadership of the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Kingsley Oppong Agyeman.
The opposition National Democratic Congress Deputy National Youth Organizer commenced his complaint by expressing shock about how the Secretariat staff allegedly demanded upfront commissions from scholarship applicants before granting approvals.
He further recounted instances where some beneficiaries, speaking publicly, recounted being coerced into transferring a percentage of the scholarship amount to secure their funding.
Furthermore, Osman Ayariga in his petition asserted that the investigative piece about the activities of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat also uncovered instances where individuals received dual sponsorship for the same course of study, both from the Secretariat and other institutions.
Notably, Mr Ayraiga mentioned one Dr. Dennis Addo, who he indicated was cited for receiving a staggering USD 50,031 for postgraduate studies from the Secretariat, alongside an undisclosed amount from his educational institution.
The former President of the National Union of Ghanaian Students also recounted what he described as troubling cases which emerged from the investigative piece where scholarship recipients failed to pursue their designated courses, yet neglected to refund the disbursed funds to the Secretariat.
He specifically mentioned one Fawzy Ramadan, whom he stated according to the investigative piece is a relative and special assistant to Ghana’s Second Lady.
Concerns over Elitism and Nepotism
Mr Ayariga in addition mentioned what according to the investigative piece amounts to disproportionate and unfair scholarship awards to individuals of privilege and political affiliation, while genuinely needy applicants languish without support.
He enlisted one Lucie Ekeleba, whom he noted per the investigative report is a daughter of the former National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party and Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Commission Freddy Blay, stressing that such instances amount to social disparity.
Given the above concerns, the opposition party’s youth leader among many things called for the immediate suspension of the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Kingsley Oppong Agyeman pending the outcome of the investigation, to prevent any potential interference with the process.
He also emphasized the need for the Office of the Special Prosecutor to attach urgency to its investigation to forestall what he termed as any possible future misappropriation of resources belonging to the state by public officers.
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