The Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom has announced the commencement of a mandatory Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise for all Ghanaian students pursuing studies in the UK under government sponsored scholarship programmes.
The exercise follows a directive from the Ghana Scholarships Authority and is intended to strengthen monitoring, accountability and compliance among beneficiaries of state funded scholarships.
In a statement issued by the Education Section of the Ghana High Commission, the validation programme will run for one month, beginning Thursday, August 13, 2026, and ending on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The High Commission explained that the exercise is being conducted in accordance with Section 31 of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025, Act 1149, as well as Section 11 of the Oaths Act, 1972, NRCD 6.
Under the legal requirements, beneficiaries of government scholarships who are studying outside Ghana are required to personally swear an Oath of Affirmation before an authorised officer of a Ghana diplomatic mission.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, stressed the importance of the directive, cautioning that students who fail to complete the validation and oath taking process will not qualify for continued consideration under the scholarship scheme.
She explained that although government has received the second payment quarter for scholarship disbursement, all beneficiaries must first undergo the mandatory validation process before further payments and support can be processed.
According to the High Commissioner, students will be required to affirm their commitment to return to Ghana after completing their studies and contribute to national development.
She added that any breach of the oath could result in beneficiaries being required to refund all funds spent on their education, including applicable interest.
The High Commission stated that the exercise forms part of government’s broader efforts to improve supervision of scholarship administration, verify beneficiary records and ensure responsible management of public resources.
“This exercise forms part of the Government of Ghana’s measures to strengthen compliance, accountability and responsible stewardship in the administration of Government scholarships for studies abroad,” the statement said.
The Commission further explained that the process will help confirm scholarship records while reinforcing beneficiaries’ obligation to return to Ghana after completing their academic programmes, in line with the conditions attached to their awards.
To make participation convenient for students across the United Kingdom, the Education Section of the High Commission will organise validation sessions at selected locations in different parts of the country.
Students have therefore been encouraged to attend the session closest to their location on the assigned date, with further information on regional venues and appointment arrangements expected to be communicated directly to affected beneficiaries.
The High Commission emphasised that participation in the exercise is compulsory and warned that failure to comply with the requirements under the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act could attract consequences provided by law.
The Commission noted that violations of Section 31(1) of Act 1149 may lead to penalties outlined under Section 31(2), including possible delays in the payment of tuition fees.
The Ghana High Commission expressed appreciation to government sponsored students for their cooperation and urged all beneficiaries to participate fully in the exercise, describing it as an important step towards protecting the integrity of Ghana’s scholarship system and ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
