The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat has bemoaned of the negative impact of the global economic crisis on the operations of the Secretariat.
Dr. Kingsley Agyemang made the disclosure during a meeting with leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students.
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Leadership of NUGS visited the Scholarship secretariat last month to discuss issues of delayed scholarship disbursements to beneficiaries, delayed appointment of students to the district scholarship selection committee as well as the closed down of secretariat’s scholarship portal.
Pressing issue of the dialogue was the unpaid scholarships to deserving students.
Dr. Agyemang during the meeting assured union leaders that government was working hard to release some funds for onward transfer to scholarship beneficiaries in due course.
“We are all aware of the challenges the country is going through. The Global financial challenge is affecting our operations. The government is working assiduously to release some funds for onward transfer to our beneficiaries. So, we want to assure our beneficiaries that soon, funds will be released”, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang indicated.
The Registrar acknowledged some form of delays, but stressed government is taking all the necessary steps to address the situation.
“It is not the doing of the government, but the global financial challenge facing all of us. However, the government through the office of the scholarship secretariat is working assiduously to release some funds for onward transfer to our beneficiaries,” Dr. Kingsley Agyemang defended the situation.
President of the Union, Mr. Dennis Appiah Larbi -Ampofo speaking on behalf of the Union acknowledged efforts of the government towards more accessible and quality education in Ghana.
He also appreciated the support given to Ghanaian students studying abroad under the current administration.
He however lamented the economic stress and frustrations that his union members are facing due to delays in fees payment and students’ upkeep.
“The situation is having dire consequences on a lot of Ghanaians students on scholarship bursary, especially our colleagues studying abroad”, the NUGS President stated.
He therefore appealed to authorities to fast-track things to immediate bring relieve to students.