We’re in trouble if rich folks are classified as needy – Domelevo on scholarship bonanza

Former Auditor-General, Dominic Yao Domelevo, has raised serious concerns about the mismanagement of scholarships in Ghana.

He criticised the system for labelling financially well-off individuals as needy, thus allowing them to benefit from scholarships intended for economically disadvantaged students.

Domelevo highlighted the troubling trend of people exploiting scholarships meant for gifted but underprivileged students.

He expressed surprise at the Scholarship Secretariat’s inaction despite these abuses being brought to light through audits.

“So I thought maybe they didn’t know, so at least since the audit has revealed some of these things, it was very easy to say look, let’s see what is expected of us, the law says this.”

During an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Domelevo pointed out that even though audits revealed these issues, no corrective measures have been taken.

He emphasised the danger of allowing affluent individuals to classify themselves as needy, undermining the purpose of scholarship funds.

“If we have a society in which the highest-paid class can classify themselves as needy, then we are in trouble.”

One of Domelevo’s examples involved a debate where someone argued that a minister earning a substantial monthly salary should qualify as needy for a scholarship.

“So if you are taking between GH₵25,000 to GH₵30,000 a month and you are needy and so it is you who is supposed to benefit from this fund, then I find it unfortunate,” the former Auditor-General stressed.

Domelevo criticised such notions, highlighting that many teachers and public servants earn significantly less.

His concerns were echoed by the recent publication ‘Scholarship Bonanza,’ which exposed beneficiaries close to government officials, including the children of prominent figures.

The public outcry has urged the Scholarship Secretariat to prioritise transparency, but the Registrar maintains that no wrongdoing has occurred.