BY GRACE ZIGAH
Serious questions are emerging over the creation and deployment of three Minister-Counsellors for Education at Ghana’s diplomatic missions in Germany, the United States and Canada, following claims that the appointments were made before the necessary financial clearance had been obtained from the Ministry of Finance.
The controversy centres on the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Alexander Kwaku Asafo-Adjei, and a correspondence reportedly submitted to the Ministry of Finance in September 2025, seeking financial clearance for the establishment of the three positions.
The development has triggered concerns about the financial implications of the appointments, the authority under which the officers were deployed, and whether the expenditure is consistent with the mandate of the Scholarships Secretariat.
At the heart of the debate is an allegation that substantial public funds intended to support students’ tuition and stipends are being used to finance the salaries and other benefits of the newly appointed officers, despite the absence of approved compensation provisions for the positions in the Secretariat’s 2025 and 2026 budgets.
Financial clearance request raises questions about sequence of appointments
A correspondence attributed to the Registrar of Scholarships and addressed to the Minister of Finance, with a copy to the Chief of Staff at Jubilee House, requested financial clearance to establish three new positions described as Minister-Counsellors responsible for Education at Ghana’s missions abroad.
The document identifies the proposed postings as Berlin in Germany, Washington in the United States, and Ottawa in Canada.
The expenditure estimates attached to the request include a monthly estimate of €18,964.95 and a one-time estimate of €78,000 for the Berlin mission, a yearly estimate of US$195,152.50 for Washington, and a first-year estimate of CAD344,638.20 for Ottawa.
However, questions have been raised about why the officers were reportedly appointed and deployed before the Ministry of Finance had granted the requested financial clearance.
Information accompanying the correspondence alleges that the appointments had already been made by the time the Registrar formally sought approval for the financial commitments.
GH¢6m estimated cost puts scholarship priorities under scrutiny
The financial implications of the appointments have become a major part of the controversy.Using indicative exchange rates provided for October 30, 2026, the estimated annual costs have been calculated at approximately GH¢1.02 million for Berlin, GH¢2.27 million for Washington and GH¢2.79 million for Ottawa. The combined figure is estimated at about GH¢6 million.These calculations are based on the stated estimates of €78,000 for Berlin, US$195,155.50 for Washington and
CAD334,638.20 for Ottawa. The figures should, however, be treated with caution because the financial-clearance correspondence also lists separate monthly and one-time estimates for Berlin, while some of the amounts differ slightly from those quoted in the accompanying account.
Beyond the basic financial estimates, the appointments are alleged to carry additional benefits, including accommodation allowances, health insurance, tuition support for up to two children, two annual return air tickets to Accra, shipment of a container to Ghana, internal travel allowances for official assignments and diplomatic passports for spouses and children.
Critics argue that an estimated GH¢6 million could make a significant contribution to supporting needy students, particularly those struggling to pay tuition fees and other educational expenses.
They are demanding a clear explanation of the expected benefits of the three positions and how their performance will be measured against the cost to the public purse.
Questions over existing diplomatic arrangements
Information accompanying the financial-clearance correspondence indicates that the London office was established in the 1980s and that the United Kingdom office remained the only established overseas office before the recent appointments.
The account identifies Naa Dede Tetteh as the former head of the London office, whose appointment was reportedly terminated in 2025.
It further states that the previous government did not establish Minister-Counsellor positions for Education in Germany, the United States and Canada because those offices did not exist at the time.
This has raised questions about the basis for creating three new positions and whether the responsibilities assigned to them could have been handled through existing diplomatic structures.
On that basis, critics are questioning why additional Minister-Counsellors were considered necessary, particularly when the financial clearance for their positions had reportedly not been granted.
Previous scholarship officials and overseas arrangements
The controversy has also brought renewed attention to the responsibilities previously assigned to officers of the Scholarships Secretariat.Joseph Djaba is cited as having served as local staff at the Berlin mission, where he reportedly earned substantially less than the amount now associated with the position of Minister-Counsellor for Education.
Similarly, Afua Gyasiwaa, who previously served as Deputy Registrar of Scholarships, was reportedly assigned additional responsibility for the Americas before her appointment was terminated in February 2025.The Registrar, Asafo-Adjei, has also reportedly been criticised over his previous public position on the use of scholarships for programmes that can be undertaken in Ghana.
Critics are therefore questioning whether the creation of the three overseas positions is consistent with the institution’s mandate and its responsibility to ensure that scholarship resources are used in the interest of Ghanaian students.
