The National Investigations Bureau (NIB) has invited Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, a social media activist linked to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to assist with an official investigation into his recent claims about the sale of scholarships valued at up to GH¢100,000. This move follows allegations he made on radio that some government-awarded scholarships may have been obtained through cash payments by certain individuals.
Mr. Nkansah’s comments, which aired on a radio panel, suggested that some people — including some associated with political groups — paid large sums of money for opportunities to study abroad. He said he had heard of cases where scholarships were effectively bought, although he did not have full details on the systems allegedly involved.
In response to the allegations, President John Dramani Mahama directed the NIB to launch an immediate probe into the matter, describing the claims as serious and of public concern given the importance of fairness and transparency in educational opportunities.
Officials from the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) have publicly refuted the accusations, insisting that scholarship awards are handled transparently and based on merit. GETFund specifically dismissed the suggestion that scholarships are sold, calling such claims unsubstantiated.
The invitation from the NIB is aimed at allowing Mr. Nkansah to provide evidence or clarify his statements as part of the investigation. Government communicators and education sector leaders have urged that the probe be conducted thoroughly, with any findings made public to uphold confidence in state scholarship schemes.
