Scholarship Secretariat has been under investigation since July 2023 – OSP replies petitioner

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that the office commenced an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences at the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat in July 2023.

This was contained in a response letter addressed to Osman Abdulai Ayariga, who on April 9, 2024, petitioned the OSP to investigate the Scholarship Secretariat for “corruption and corruption-related offences.”

The Scholarship Secretariat has come under a barrage of criticism following the Fourth Estate’s investigation, in which the Secretariat awarded huge funding amounts to relatives of politically exposed persons to study abroad.

This contradicts the Scholarship Secretariat’s main objective of offering local and foreign scholarships to academically talented but financially disadvantaged students.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, who signed the letter, noted that “the Office of the Special Prosecutor commenced investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences at the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat circa July 2023. The investigation is active and ongoing.”

The Special Prosecutor added that the Office will contact the petitioner, Mr. Ayariga, for assistance should the need arise.