5000 Students to benefit from local scholarships — Asafo-Agyei
The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat yesterday opened the application portal for the award of local scholarships to 5,000 students in tertiary institutions across the country.
Out of the number, 2,000 brilliant needy students would benefit from the package, while 3,000 slots would be competitive.
The initiative is opened to Level 200 students and above in public tertiary institutions and from Level 100 students in private tertiary institutions.
This is because students in private institutions do not benefit from the government's No-Stress-Free Policy on admission fees.
The deadline for the submission of application is August 15, this year, and applicants are to visit www.scholarships.gov.gh.
Launch
The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, who launched the programme for the 2025-2026 Academic Year in Accra yesterday, explained that 70 per cent of the scholarships would go to students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), information technology (IT) and Law in the various institutions.
He said the initiative represented a cornerstone of President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of creating a new scholarship regime with commitment to expanding access to higher education and empowering future leaders.
"As part of our continuous efforts to promote transparency, equity and national development through education, this year's application process has been designed to be efficient, inclusive and entirely digital," the registrar said.
He said the process to award scholarships to the brilliant needy students would be carried out by the various facilities, departments and units in the various institutions, with a technical committee from the Scholarships Secretariat playing an oversight role.
Eligibility
Outlining the eligibility criteria, Mr Asafo-Agyei said all applicants must be Ghanaian citizens residing in the country who must have gained admission and enrolled in a programme in a tertiary institution.
Under phase one of the process, applicants should first create an account, enter personal details, enter and upload academic and institution details and select a metropolitan, municipal or district assembly for a selection interview.
Under phase two, applicants are to complete an online aptitude test on a scheduled date within the application period, after which qualified applicants would appear at a selected assembly for the selection interview.
The registrar gave the start date for the interviews at the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) as August 18, 2025, and would last until August 30, this year.
Results of beneficiaries would be released in the first week of September this year and then "award of scholarship will also be in the first week in September 2025".
No payment
Mr Asafo-Agyei said the application for the scholarship was free, and that no part of the application process required payment.
"The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat does not charge fees for services and no individual, group or third party entity has been engaged or authorised to assist applicants at a fee.
"We strongly urge the public to report all such individuals or suspicious activities directly to our dedicated WhatsApp line: 0559285646 which is being handled by the Ghana Police Service Criminal Investigation Department," he said, and "all kinds of evidence are accepted to help expedite investigations," he said.
Mr Asafo-Agyei cautioned applicants against engaging unauthorised persons or paying money to anyone under the guise of gaining favour in the selection process.
"Let us work together to eliminate fraud and safeguard the integrity of the scholarship scheme," he said, while advising applicants to not wait until the last minute to apply and also ensure that all information provided was accurate and verifiable.
Commitment
Mr Asafo-Agyei said the secretariat remained committed to building a just and educated society where every capable citizen had a fair chance of succeeding.
Education, he said, was not only the key to personal transformation but also the engine of national progress.
"Through this scholarship programme, we are investing in the minds and dreams of the next generation.
"I encourage all eligible citizens to take full advantage of this opportunity and apply confidently, knowing that the process is free, fair and open to all who meet the criteria," the registrar added.
