Ghana Government-sponsored students studying in the United States and the Caribbean will begin a mandatory Oath of Affirmation and Scholarship Validation Exercise on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The exercise, announced by the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C., will run for one month and end on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The exercise follows a directive from the Ghana Scholarships Authority and applies to government-sponsored students studying outside Ghana.
The Embassy said the process is being conducted under Section 31 of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149), and Section 11 of the Oaths Act, 1972 (NRCD 6).
These provisions require scholarship beneficiaries studying outside Ghana to personally subscribe to an Oath of Affirmation before a designated officer of a Ghana diplomatic mission.
The exercise will also validate scholarship records and reinforce beneficiaries’ obligations under their scholarship awards.
The Embassy said the process forms part of measures to strengthen “compliance, accountability and responsible stewardship in the administration of Government scholarships for studies abroad.”
It will also reaffirm students’ commitment to return to Ghana after completing their studies.
According to the Embassy, the exercise will “reaffirm beneficiaries’ commitment to return to Ghana upon the successful completion of their studies, in accordance with the conditions of their scholarship awards.”
To make the process accessible to students, the Education Section of the Embassy will organise sessions at selected locations across the United States and the Caribbean.
The Ghana High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, will also host a session. Students have been encouraged to attend the venue closest to them on the scheduled date.
“Students are therefore encouraged to report at the venue closest to them on the scheduled date,” the Embassy said. Details about the various venues and appointment arrangements will be communicated directly to affected students.
Students who want to complete the exercise in Washington, D.C. can do so at the Embassy of Ghana at 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008.
The Washington, D.C. exercise will be strictly by appointment. Appointments will be available on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Students must book their appointments in advance by emailing education.washington@mta.gov.gh.
The Embassy has also advised students to prepare all required documents before attending. “Students are encouraged to ensure that all documentation is complete before attending their appointment to avoid delays in the validation process,” it said.
The Embassy has stressed that participation in the exercise is mandatory.
“Students are reminded that participation in this exercise is mandatory under Section 31 of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Act, 2025 (Act 1149),” the notice said.
The law also requires beneficiaries of government scholarships for studies outside Ghana to return and serve the country after completing their programmes, subject to the terms and conditions determined by the Ghana Scholarships Authority.
Section 31 provides that beneficiaries who fail to meet the return requirement may be required to refund the total amount of their scholarship.
They may also be required to pay interest on the scholarship amount at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rate. The Embassy said a copy of the relevant section of the Act accompanies its notice “for ease of reference.”
The Education Office of the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C. has urged all affected students to cooperate with the exercise.
The mandatory process will officially begin on October 8, 2026, and continue until November 6, 2026.
Read the statement below:
