Ghana High Commission to proceed with PhD students’ verification and oath-taking

Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, announced that the High Commission will proceed with a verification and oath-taking process for PhD students sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) in the United Kingdom. The move has faced criticism from scholarship beneficiaries, who view it as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that they have already committed to returning to Ghana following their studies through signed bonds.

The students’ leadership expressed doubt about the necessity of the additional oath-taking and raised concerns over unpaid tuition and stipends. Madam Benson clarified that the students' scholarship bonds already include provisions for compliance with conditions set by the GSA, such as surveys and evaluations. She also cited a clause requiring scholars to return to Ghana within two months of completing their studies, with the possibility of refunding scholarship funds for those who fail to comply.

Benson rejected the students' demand for a guaranteed reintegration into the Ghanaian job market, emphasizing that no such obligation was in their signed scholarship agreements. She questioned why the students did not raise these concerns earlier, given that the scholarships were awarded between 2020 and 2025. Benson also dismissed the claim that the oath-taking requirement was being applied retrospectively, asserting that the GSA has the authority to introduce measures to ensure scholarship compliance.

The High Commission is undertaking the verification and oath-taking exercise to safeguard taxpayers' interests and ensure that beneficiaries fulfill the terms of their scholarships, with the government having reasons for introducing this verification process.