Ghana's high commissioner to the united kingdom and ireland:ponsored Master's and PhD scholarships in the UK travelled with their spouses and several children at the expense of the Ghanaian taxpayer. According to her, some scholarship recipients brought entire families to the UK, with the government allegedly paying for their airfare, visas, tuition, and stipends.
According to Ghana Web, Benson, in an interview on TV3's GhanaTonight, revealed that she had personally reviewed documents related to several such cases. "I have about three files or maybe four of such people who were brought in, whole families. So, one person, it could be the husband or the wife, gets a scholarship to come and study," she indicated. She highlighted that some of the beneficiaries were enrolled in programs like Master of Business Administration (MBA) and policy studies, which she argued were also available at universities in Ghana.
Benson detailed that the scholarship recipients often traveled with large families, sometimes consisting of three to five children, in addition to their spouses. She alleged that the government covered costs for premium visa applications, air tickets, and other expenses for the accompanying family members. "We were paying for premium visas for these awardees and their families. We were paying for air tickets for all of them. And then we were paying for yellow fever card for a vaccination," she disclosed.
The High Commissioner claimed that the government spent £8,160 for each family member accompanying a scholarship recipient to the UK. Benson described this practice as a misuse of public funds, contributing to the financial burden on Ghana's mission in the UK. She further revealed that Ghana owes approximately £35 million, with the alleged expenditures on families of scholarship recipients forming part of the broader financial issues.
Benson called for accountability, suggesting that those responsible should refund all expenses, including visa fees, and be charged for causing financial loss to the state. She also criticized the arrangement, noting that Ghana invests in the education of beneficiaries who may not return to contribute to the country. "What happens to the money that we invested in them? Somebody has to be bold enough to let them know that this cannot continue," she said.
In conclusion, Benson urged a review of the scholarship arrangements and emphasized the need for accountability for officials or beneficiaries found to have abused the scheme.