Gov’t Negotiates to Settle Over ¢700 Million Scholarship Debt Owed to Foreign Schools – Minister Assures Students

The Youth Development and Empowerment Minister, George Opare Addo, has revealed that the government is actively negotiating with international educational institutions to settle an accumulated scholarship debt exceeding ¢700 million.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, July 22, the Minister assured affected Ghanaian students that the outstanding fees will be paid, even though the administration does not currently have the full amount in hand.

“We’re dealing with over ¢700 million in debt, which we inherited. It’s a heavy burden, and we are doing everything we can to address it,” he said.

Mr. Opare Addo explained that the debt comprises tuition and related fees owed to schools across the world, putting Ghanaian students at risk of expulsion. To prevent this, the government has deployed officials to negotiate with institutions globally.

“My registrar has been moving from country to country negotiating with these schools. We receive threats daily—some institutions are threatening to sack our students,” he stated.

He emphasized that the situation affects the lives of young Ghanaians and must be handled with urgency.

“This is about Ghanaian students. It’s about our citizens. We must find the money to pay,” he stressed.

Mr. Opare Addo commended the support of the Chief of Staff and the Finance Minister, noting that both are working closely with his ministry to find a solution.

“Some institutions have shown understanding, knowing we are a new government inheriting these issues. We’re slowly aligning and fixing the problems,” he added.

Responding to concerns about students being ordered off campus, the Minister acknowledged such cases but pointed to the previous administration’s failure to settle the debts as the root cause.

“You can’t blame this government for what we inherited. Some of these debts have been outstanding for over a year or two,” he said.

To verify the actual extent of the debt, the ministry has initiated an audit of the scholarship system.

“We’re auditing the system to determine the true state of things. We’ve met some of the students in London and discussed options,” he noted, although he declined to disclose all the details publicly.

He also revealed that some students who have completed their studies but have not returned to Ghana are still expecting stipends, which contravenes the terms of their scholarship agreements.

“Once you complete your program, you are expected to return home. Many want to stay and work abroad. But if you choose to stay, you forfeit your stipend,” he clarified.

Mr. Opare Addo said many students have agreed to forgo their stipends under this condition.

He concluded by reiterating that the audit will help clear the discrepancies and give a more accurate picture of the financial burden.

“As of now, the estimated debt sits at over ¢700 million, but we believe the final figure will be clearer once the audit is complete,” he stated.