Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, has emphasised that the High Commission will proceed with the planned verification and pledge ceremony for state-sponsored PhD scholars in Britain.
The exercise, she explained, is to reaffirm the scholars’ commitment to return to Ghana after their studies. It comes despite objections from student representatives who have described the requirement as discriminatory and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 7, the student leaders argued that they had already signed bonds to return and saw no need for an additional pledge. But responding on Facebook, Ms. Benson defended the move. She pointed to specific clauses in the bonds signed under former GSA Registrar, Kingsley Agyemang.
According to her, those clauses give the Authority the right to demand surveys, evaluations and compliance checks, and also require beneficiaries to return within two months of completing their courses.
She added that scholars who fail to return could be made to refund the full cost of their scholarships. The High Commissioner also questioned a set of new demands raised by the students, including payment of backdated stipends and fees, full settlement before departure and guaranteed state jobs.
She asked why these were not raised during Mr. Agyemang’s tenure from 2020 to 2025. “The Ghana High Commission, acting on behalf of the GSA, shall go ahead with the planned verification and oath-taking,” she stated.
She dismissed claims that the exercise was retroactive, saying it falls squarely within the GSA’s mandate.
Ms. Benson further rejected calls for job guarantees. “In the bond they signed, I see no obligation by Government to reintegrate them into society,” she said.
She stressed that the exercise is in the interest of taxpayers and is meant to correct past lapses. She warned that beneficiaries cannot hold the state to ransom, and urged them to take note of government’s firm position as preparations continue.
