Parliament considers Bill to establish Ghana Scholarships Authority
Ghana’s Parliament is currently reviewing the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025—an important initiative aimed at reforming how government scholarships are administered and awarded nationwide.
Now under discussion during the second meeting of the first session of the Ninth Parliament, the Bill seeks to address persistent challenges in scholarship management while promoting transparency, fairness, and equitable access to educational support.
The Bill was officially introduced to Parliament by the Honourable Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrissu, on July 9, 2025.
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Following its presentation, it was referred to the Joint Committee on Education and Public Administration and State Interest for detailed review and recommendations.
The core objective of the Bill is to establish the Ghana Scholarships Authority—a dedicated body responsible for overseeing the administration, allocation, and management of government scholarships.
The Bill contains 34 clauses, covering everything from the Authority’s establishment, its functions, governance structure, and funding arrangements, to eligibility criteria, application procedures, and conditions for scholarship awards.
Key provisions under consideration include the decentralisation of scholarship awards to ensure wider access across regions, prioritisation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes to foster national development, and the introduction of a transparent, merit-based selection process.
The Bill also emphasises the need to prevent abuse of the system, including measures for the repayment of scholarships by beneficiaries who study abroad and fail to return or serve the country afterwards.
Funding remains a crucial aspect of the Bill. The proposed legislation recommends that the Authority’s funds could be supplemented by up to two percent of the country’s oil revenue and a percentage of disbursements from the Ghana Education Trust Fund and the Student Loan Trust Fund, ensuring sustainable financing.
The Committee also discussed the importance of establishing a comprehensive database of scholarship beneficiaries to prevent duplication and improve transparency. Additionally, amendments have been proposed to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of some clauses, including criteria for scholarship eligibility, application assessment, and disciplinary measures for non-compliance.
While the Bill is still under review, the Joint Committee has expressed a positive outlook, noting that the proposed legislation aligns with national development goals and addresses past issues of patronage, corruption, and nepotism in scholarship awards.
The Committee unanimously recommended that the House adopt the report and pass the Bill, paving the way for a more transparent and equitable scholarship system in Ghana.
During the second reading of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025, the Education Minister called on Parliament to support the legislation aimed at overhauling the country’s scholarship system.
In his address, Mr Iddrisu emphasised the need for a robust legal framework to regulate scholarship awards, which he said would help eliminate issues of political patronage, corruption, nepotism, and cronyism that have plagued the current system.
“Support this Bill to provide the regulatory oversight needed to ensure deserving students benefit from our scholarship programs and to restore confidence in our national education system,” he appealed.
He highlighted that the Bill seeks to elevate the Scholarship Secretariat into a formal authority responsible for ensuring transparent and merit-based scholarship awards, including skills upgrading programs across Ghana.
Furthermore, the Minister announced the introduction of the President’s Scholarship for Excellence, which will recognise the top 10 students in West Africa based on results from the West African Senior Certificate Examination, ensuring meritocracy in awarding national honours.
He also highlighted ongoing challenges, noting that many Ghanaian students studying abroad have been sent home due to unpaid scholarships, underscoring the urgency of passing this legislation.
