Alexander Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, has strongly opposed to the controversial “No Objection Policy,” asserting that it fundamentally undermines the country’s investment in its human capital.
Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Accra FM, Asafo-Agyei called for urgent reforms, emphasizing that the current policy allows beneficiaries to stay abroad indefinitely without returning to serve Ghana, a situation he described as ‘illogical’ and ‘counterproductive’.
Asafo-Agyei revealed that he had proposed to the Education Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, and the presidential committee to review the policy, recommending that any student granted ‘No Objection’ status should have their scholarship converted into a loan.
“I have proposed to Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and the other committee set up by the President that we should review the No Objection Policy”.
He suggested establishing agreements with employers abroad to deduct a percentage of the beneficiaries’ salaries to repay these loans, creating a statutory fund to benefit Ghana.
“If you complete school and apply for No Objection, the scholarship should be turned into a loan. Then, for the work you engage in abroad, we can enter into an agreement with your employer to deduct a certain percentage of your earnings at the end of each month. We can create a fund, which will be called a statutory fund.”
Asafo-Agyei argued that this undermines the purpose of the scholarships, which are intended to develop human capital to benefit Ghana.
“When I assumed office, I made it clear that the No Objection Policy does not make sense. The government sponsors these students to acquire knowledge and expects them to return and contribute to national development. However, with this policy, they remain abroad, contributing to the economies of other countries instead,” he stated.
He further explained that many of the individuals protesting against the government are former scholarship recipients who obtained “No Objection” letters, enabling them to stay overseas on graduate visas, particularly in the UK, where they are now working.
Source :www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
