Education Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) has denied reports that he has been a beneficiary of GETFund scholarship since becoming a minister in 2017.

A report by the Auditor-General named Dr Opoku Prempeh among some politicians who allegedly received funding for their studies abroad.

Dr Opoku Prempeh is listed to have received US$11,200 to study National and International Security at Harvard University and US$12,800 as tuition and living allowance.

But in a Facebook post, the Education Minister said the statement is false and calculated to cause him embarrassment and public ridicule.

“I have noted, with dismay, news carried by some media that suggests that I have, as a minister, received a scholarship from the Ghana Education Trust Fund for studies at Harvard.

“This impression is false and calculated to cause embarrassment and public ridicule. I have not received any form of sponsorship for any programme or course of study from GETFund of scholarship secretariat since becoming a minister,” his post read.

Dr Opoku Prempeh, however, explained that: “I have been a recipient of GETFund award in 2014 to participate in a three-week certificate programme at the Kennedy School of Govt, Harvard University.”

He urged the public to disregard the report which according to him is “borne out of mischief and lies, intended to cause disaffection.”

The Objective of GETFund, per the Ghana Education Trust Act, 2000 (Act 581) is as follows:

(1) The object of the Fund is to provide finance to supplement the provision of the education at all levels by Government

(2) For the purposes of attaining this object, the monies from the Fund are to be expended as follows:

(a) To provide financial support to the agencies and institutions under the Ministry of Education, through the Ministry, for the development and maintenance of essential academic facilities and infrastructure in public educational institutions, particularly, in tertiary institutions;

(b) To provide supplementary funding to the Scholarship Secretariat for the grant of scholarships of gifted but needy students for studies in the second-cycle and accredited tertiary institutions in Ghana;

© To contribute monies from the Fund towards the operation of student loans schemes for students in accredited tertiary institutions through loan scheme mechanisms and agencies, approved by the Minister;

(d) To provide through the National Council of Tertiary Education, grants to tertiary institutions,

(i) To train brilliant students as members of faculties;

(ii)  To undertake research and other academic programmes of relevance to national development; and

(e) To provide monies to support such other educational activities and programmes for the promotion of education as the Minister in consultation with the Board may determine.