Scholarship Secretariat owes over GH¢700 million – George Opare Addo

Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has revealed that Ghana currently owes over GH¢700 million in outstanding scholarship payments to institutions across the world.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express and monitored by GhanaWeb on Tuesday, July 22, George Opare Addo described the situation as a “bad, bad mess”, adding that the debt was inherited from the previous administration and continues to pose a challenge to the government’s finances.

“That is the debt we inherited. My registrar has had to go around the world to negotiate with schools.

“We keep receiving threats of student expulsions, and so almost every time he’s out there pleading and renegotiating what we can afford to pay,” he said.

According to him, government does not have GH¢700 million in cash readily available and those efforts are being made in collaboration with the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Finance to clear the arrears.

“It involves Ghanaian students. It involves lives. We must find the money to pay. Some institutions have been very understanding, and they know we’re a new government working to fix the situation,” he said.

George Opare Addo noted that Ghana’s international reputation is at stake, making it crucial that the debts are addressed with urgency.

AS/VPO

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