Ghana orders UK scholarship students to swear return-to-country oath
The mandatory exercise aims to ensure government-funded students abroad return to Ghana after their studies, with authorities warning that failure to comply could affect future payments. This angle gives the reader the why behind the policy, rather than simply reporting the administrative announcement.
Ghanaian students receiving government scholarships in the United Kingdom will be required to swear an oath promising to return home after their studies, as authorities introduce new measures to monitor scholarship beneficiaries.
The Ghana High Commission in the UK said it will begin a mandatory Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise for all government-sponsored students studying in the country.
The exercise will run from 13 August to 4 September 2026 and follows a directive from the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA).
The High Commission said the requirement is based on provisions in the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149), which require scholarship beneficiaries studying outside Ghana to personally take an oath before a designated officer of a Ghana diplomatic mission.
Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, said students who fail to complete the validation and oath-taking process will not be considered for future scholarship-related payments.
"We are going to validate all students; they will take an oath that they will return to Ghana to serve," she said.
She added that any breach of the undertaking could require beneficiaries to refund the money spent on their education, including interest.
The High Commission said the exercise is aimed at improving accountability and ensuring that government-funded scholarships achieve their intended purpose.
"It will also validate scholarship records and reaffirm beneficiaries' commitment to return to Ghana upon the successful completion of their studies," the statement said.
The Education Section of the High Commission will organise validation sessions at selected locations across the UK to allow students to complete the process.
Officials said participation is compulsory and warned that failure to comply could affect future payments, including tuition fee disbursements.
The government has increasingly focused on ensuring that professionals trained through state-funded programmes contribute their skills to Ghana's development after completing their studies abroad.
The High Commission urged affected students to cooperate with the exercise and follow further instructions on appointment dates and locations.