Ghana Government-sponsored students studying in the United States and the Caribbean will be required to take an oath affirming their commitment to return to Ghana after completing their programmes or risk financial consequences under the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025.
The Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C., said the mandatory Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise will run from October 8 to November 6, 2026, following a directive from the Ghana Scholarships Authority.
The exercise is being conducted under Section 31 of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149), and Section 11 of the Oaths Act, 1972 (NRCD 6), which require government scholarship beneficiaries studying outside Ghana to personally subscribe to an oath before a designated officer of a Ghana diplomatic mission.
Under Section 31 of Act 1149, scholarship beneficiaries who study outside Ghana are required, subject to the terms and conditions of their awards, to return to Ghana and serve the country after completing their programmes.
A beneficiary who refuses to return may be required to refund the total amount of the scholarship awarded, together with interest at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rate.
The Act further provides that where the beneficiary fails to pay the penalty, the Ghana Scholarships Authority may recover the scholarship amount and applicable interest as a civil debt at twice the total amount of the scholarship and interest.
The Embassy said the exercise will also be used to validate scholarship records and reinforce compliance with the conditions attached to government-funded studies abroad.
Sessions will be organised at selected locations across the United States and the Caribbean, including the Ghana High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to allow beneficiaries to complete the exercise without travelling to Washington, D.C.
Students who choose to complete the exercise in Washington must book appointments and appear at the Embassy at 3512 International Drive NW on Thursdays and Fridays between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. during the exercise period.
The Embassy urged affected students to ensure that their documentation is complete before attending their appointments to avoid delays in the validation process.
