It is Unethical to Award Scholarships for Needy but Brilliant Students to the Affluent Prof Stephen Adei Fires

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has stressed the need for enhanced transparency in the scholarship allocation process.

Professor Adei’s call comes in the wake of a recent publication by The Fourth Estate uncovering instances where scholarships designated for the poor and needy but brilliant students were allegedly awarded to the relatives of very successful politicians.

According to the report by the Fourth Estate, notable political figures including the daughters of the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a former Inspector General of Police were listed among the beneficiaries.

In an interview with Joy News on Wednesday, April 4, Professor Stephen Adei stressed the importance of making all scholarship applications and recipients public.

He called on the media to play a pivotal role in holding the government accountable to this transparency standard which seems to be missing in the governance system.

He said, “the media people can help greatly by insisting that that is done and then what we see as people are alleging Blay and other people, ministers and those things having their children there, then the Ghanaian public would react.”

Professor Adei quickly added that while it may not be illegal for children of affluent and influential individuals to acquire scholarships earmarked for the financially disadvantaged, it is undeniably unethical to engage in actions such as the ones exposed by the Fourth Estate.

He concorded that there might be limited legal recourse in such cases but emphasised the significance of acknowledging the moral implications of such actions.

Professor Adei insisted on the importance of continued vigilance from both the media and the public in holding the government accountable, underscoring that this issue is fundamentally about social justice.

“For example, you won't believe that my son went to KNUST, and my friend was the vice-chancellor. I was then rector of GIMPA, but I said I would like to pay for it, and I paid for my son, and he was even entitled to a government scholarship. So, it is a moral issue.

"I am wondering whether, on a moral issue, you can punish or take the people to court. I think that when the list is published, there are some who, if they knew the list was published, would not go for it in the future,” he said.Kobina Darlington/