Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Director of Communications for the Campaign Team of the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate has defended the award of government scholarship grants to politically connected persons and the affluent.
In a post on social media on April 6, 2024, Dennis Aboagye argued that the state scholarship scheme is not only meant to aid the education of the gifted but economically disadvantaged.
He said it is also aimed to assist those, who are not underprivileged, to acquire essential skills that will be needed to propel the development of the country.
“The 1st point of deceit is the impression that Scholarship is for ‘only the poor’. Scholarship is for the poor who cannot afford and the not so poor but need value addition,” he stated.
Dennis Aboagye was reacting to an investigation by The Fourth Estate that revealed scholarships geared towards helping the education of the brilliant but needy are being awarded to affluent and politically connected persons.
The investigation shows politically connected persons and their relatives including daughter of former National Chairman of the NPP and current board chairman of GNPC Freddie Blay, relative and personal assistant of the Second Lady Samira Bawumia and relative of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and president Nana Akufo-Addo among others have received scholarships while the needy are denied same.
Others have also been found to have received double scholarship even though they are not needy and therefore, are undeserving of such assistance.
The revelations have sparked public outcry with many calling for reforms and the refund of the monies by the individuals involved.
But for Dennis Aboagye, it is erroneous to say that the scheme is only meant to offer assistance to the poor.
