The Graduate College students Affiliation of Ghana (GRASAG) has mentioned it’s dismayed by the abuse of discretionary powers of the Board of the Ghana Training Belief Fund (GETFund) Secretariat which has culminated within the award of scholarships to undeserving individuals in society.
The important thing goal of the GETFund is to offer monetary assist (scholarship) for needy college students as acknowledged by Part 2 (2b) of Act 581. Part 2, Clause (b) states that: ‘GETFund is to provide supplementary funding to the Scholarship Secretariat for the grant of scholarships of gifted but needy students for studies in the second cycle and accredited tertiary institutions in Ghana’.
Nonetheless, GRASAG mentioned individuals of affect and people with a lot political publicity have hijacked this necessary goal of the Secretariat on the expense of the poor taxpayer on whose behalf the fund was established.
This comes after it was revealed that prime authorities officers like Training Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Procurement Minister Sarah Adwoa Safo, NaCCA boss Dr. Prince Armah, amongst a number of others, have benefited from GETFund awards from 2012 so far.
Reacting to this revelation, GRASAG, in an announcement, mentioned there may be huge proof that many brilliant-but-poor college students are denied scholarships as a result of they lack political connections.
“It is really unconscionable that sitting Members of Parliament and other public officials will even put themselves up to be considered for scholarship meant for needy students. This is the evidence of impunity with which the political class has carefully been orchestrating against the masses in this country,” GRASAG acknowledged.
“To the extent that these public officials did not go through any robust competitive selection process before receiving their scholarships is enough grounds to ask them to refund the said amount and we call on the attorney general and the office of the special prosecutor to investigate the circumstances that resulted in this malicious abuse of office by these public officials,” the assertion added.
The graduate college students say there’s something untoward about how GETFund awarded scholarships to politically-exposed people quite than brilliant-but-needy college students as anticipated by Act 581 to check overseas, in topics and applications that may be dealt with by the various accredited tertiary establishments in Ghana.
It mentioned permitting GETFund to proceed awarding scholarships with out recourse to the Scholarships Secretariat quantities to the duplicity of capabilities and have to be curtailed to the barest minimal.
GRASAG famous that it’s following the difficulty keenly and won’t relent on its push for reforms till it has seen reforms within the administration of scholarships within the nation.
Within the group’s view, public funds should not be used for the advantage of a couple of people with political connection and affect whereas the plenty wallow in abject poverty and uncertainties.
“At this point, GRASAG stands by the recommendations of the Auditor- General for GETFund to abide by Section 2 (2b) of the GETFund Act and give funds to Scholarships Secretariat for the administration of local scholarships and desist from administering foreign scholarships. We also call for the prosecution and sanctioning of public officials, both past and present, who have, unfairly, benefited from scholarships meant for brilliant-but-needy students as well as officials who approved these scholarships.”
Supply: Ghana Internet
