Education Minister Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh popularly known as 'Napo' has denied reports that he is a beneficiary of GETFund scholarship as a Minister.
A performance audit report by the Auditor-General on the administration of scholarships by GETFund named Dr Opoku-Prempeh among some politicians who allegedly received funding for their studies abroad.
Dr Opoku-Prempeh is listed to have received US$11,200 to study National and International Security at Harvard University and US$12,800 as tuition and living allowance.
But in a Facebook post, the Education Minister said the statement is false and calculated to cause him embarrassment and public ridicule.
"I have noted with dismay a news carried by some media, that suggests that I have as a Minister, received a scholarship from the Ghana Education Trust Fund for studies at Harvard."
"This impression is false and calculated to cause embarrassment and public ridicule. I have not received any form of sponsorship for any program or course of study from getfund of scholarship secretariat since becoming a Minister."
"However, I have been a recipient of getfund award in 2014 to participate in a 3-week certificate program at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University."
"I urge the public to disregard this story, borne out of mischief and lies, intended to cause disaffection," he said.
Some ministers in the Akufo-Addo government and other government appointees have been listed as beneficiaries of GETFund scholarships, which are meant for needy but brilliant students.
A performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the administration of scholarships by GETFund revealed that Education Minister Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, Procurement Minister and Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo as well as the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prince Hamidu Armah have all benefitted from the scheme.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries are qualified Ghanaians (brilliant but needy students and workers) who have applied for scholarship, gone through the selection process and are on scholarship grants.
Beneficiaries on foreign scholarship are to enter into a bond to return to Ghana immediately on completion of programme to serve the nation for not less than five years.
In default of the bond, beneficiaries are required to refund the sums expended on them plus an interest at the rate
of 15 per cent.
Payment of tuition
When a beneficiary is awarded scholarship, the academic institution is to furnish the sponsor with the student’s bill and the sponsor instructs its bank to pay the tuition fees to the academic institution.
The institution acknowledges receipt of payment by crediting the student’s account and issuing a receipt to
the sponsor. The institution provides admission documents to the student to present to the consulate offices for a visa.
Payment of Allowances
Students are entitled to a monthly living allowance and other allowances that are paid to them once they secure their visas. When beneficiaries arrive in the country of study, they are to open an account and furnish the sponsor with the
bank details.
The sponsor submits the names of beneficiaries together with their bank details to the sponsor’s banks and instructs the banks to transfer the allowances into the accounts of beneficiaries.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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I think the Auditor General is the problem. He is being biased and diabolic, trying hard to help his party out by desperately releasing trivial information for propaganda purposes. The said scholarships were released during the administration of the NDC and I bet, the practice had not only been peculiar to the members of the ruling Party NPP but the opposition NDC as well. We quite often hear prominent politicians speaking for the idea of all-inclusive administration employing experts based on their merits but not on their affiliation to a particular party in power. Unfortunately, the Auditor Gen. is setting a bad precedent in terms of his sole attempt to release information that his party can use against its' opponents. Mind you. Ghanaians are intelligent enough and this will definitely have an adverse effect against the NDC, instead.
Wo y3 ewi
I found my name on the list. The stated amount is five times(5×) more than the amount I applied for and received from getfund. I could be available to provide information/evidence if need be. God help this nation.
What kind of audit finding is this? Is it for just political hitting or what? Ghana will suffer for undermining one other.
We all remember the AG was appointed by Mahama before he exited from Flagstaff House that's why the Ndc jumps on any audit from him that does not favour the present government. I'm sure the minority is given the info before the public gets to know. We know of members of the last govt. who were attending lectures at the weekend in London, U.K. Mr. AG, instead of meeting Osafo Marfo in court, you've petitioned the CJ. You're just lucky like you will see your smoothness level
Most npp supporters and their ministers speak for speaking sake and have a thought that Ghanaians are so fuuuulish and for that matter everything they say will be taken. You have been named as beneficiary of getfund, simpliciter! Either you are a beneficiary or not, but this circus about someone wants to tarnish your reputation is a red herring. You have admitted receiving getfund support, let's move on, you don't have any reputation for anyone to tarnish. The only notorious reputation you have is telling parents looking for placement for their children that they were bused by the NDC to independent square
I don't know what the response from the education minister sought to do. What does the report say? The report is just names of GETFUND beneficiaries, eno bi so? So whether you received for 30mins, 3hours, 3days, 3weeks or whatever, the truth is that you had been a beneficiary of GETFUND since it was implemented. I am not sure the report was talking about those who owe GETFUND loans. Why are most of these politicians adamant to be liars? What is reputation damage about being beneficiary of GETFUND. There is a saying that conscience is a deep wound that only the truth can heal. His conscience is killing him because of the way some of them have insulted others for benefiting from such interventions.
If you know the law you would not be talking about 32 years action. The law has limitations to actions called 'statute barred'. The Auditor General must behave responsibly. He is tarnishing his reputation.
You are very shallow minded. what is the problem if the auditor general issues a 20 year report to show us "Ghanaians" what has been going on. Wait for 2032 when I become president. People like you will be kept in rooms to donate blood to the Nation's blood bank.
WOW!! THIS WAS A GUY LAMBASTING NORTHERNERS WHO RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS MEANWHILES WHILES HE WAS SAYING ALL THESE ***barred word***, HE WAS RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIP MEANT FOR BRILLIANT BUT NEEDY STUDENTS IN HIS OWN CONSTITUENTS. WHETHER 2014 OR 2020 YOU DID RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP. WHAT A SHAME!!!!