Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill Needs Scrutiny, Not Urgency- NUGS

The National Union of Ghana Schools has kicked against the consideration of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill by Parliament under a certificate of urgency.

The student group believes that the far-reaching and intergenerational impact of the bill demands that it be subjected to “robust scrutiny, inclusive dialogue, and national consensus”.

In a statement, NUGS argued that there was no demonstrable national emergency that warranted bypassing the normal legislative procedure.

It decried its exclusion from the membership of the Governing Board of the new Ghana Scholarship Authority.

“Reforming the scholarship regime in Ghana must not be reduced to administrative restructuring; it must aim at achieving transparency, equity, accountability, and meritocracy.

“These goals cannot be realised without a comprehensive engagement of stakeholders, including students, tertiary institutions, youth organisations, civil society, and development partners.”

The sentiments of the Union are shared by the Citizens’ Coalition.

Acknowledging the need for reform, it said the Bill in its current form does not adequately address the structural weaknesses of the existing scholarships regime.

“Rather than remedying the prevailing opacity, nepotism and political interference, it risks institutionalising them. We are convinced that the proposed legislation falls short of establishing a transparent, accountable and merit-based system consistent with global best practice in public scholarships management.”

It therefore called for genuine reform with broad stakeholder engagement, including students and youth groups, tertiary institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.

“These consultations are essential in designing a legal framework that consolidates the fragmented scholarship landscape into a coherent and credible authority that serves the national interest.”

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/