Scrap political influence in scholarships now – EduWatch urges government
A civil society group is calling for an overhaul of Ghana's public scholarship system, accusing it of serving the political elite rather than deserving students.
The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) and a member of the Citizens’ Coalition, Kofi Asare, said the current structure of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat is riddled with opacity, political interference, and a lack of accountability.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Channel One TV on Saturday, Mr Asare stated: “It is not a responsive public scholarships scheme. It was designed under the President's Scholarship to serve the political elite, not the Ghanaian public who actually deserve it.”
He noted that the Secretariat often delays responses to Right to Information (RTI) requests for over a year. “Last year alone, we submitted three RTI requests between 2023 and 2024 and received no response. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” he added.
“Opaque and unregulated”
EduWatch argues that the scholarship system is being operated outside the formal education framework and lacks transparency. Mr Asare criticised the absence of clear eligibility criteria, saying the process resembles a “cult-like” system where only a few politically connected individuals benefit.
He pointed out that global best practices show that universities and faculties—not politicians—should determine scholarship beneficiaries based on merit and academic performance.
“In places like the UK or the US, students apply directly to their institutions for scholarships. The process is regulated, transparent, and rooted in academic merit,” he said.
Civil society proposes Reform Bill
Mr Asare revealed that civil society organisations have proposed the establishment of a harmonised Public Scholarships Authority to centralise and regulate all government scholarship schemes—whether from COCOBOD, GETFund, or other public institutions.
The proposed authority would have legal backing, report to Parliament, and ensure compliance with national standards and merit-based systems.
“The biggest issue is: who decides who gets a scholarship? Currently, it’s the executive arm of government—ministers and other political appointees—who determine beneficiaries, directly or indirectly. That must change,” he stated.
He named top government officials, including the Minister of Education, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General, as key actors influencing scholarship decisions.
“Time to decouple politics from scholarships”
EduWatch insists that the path to reform begins with removing political influence from the selection process.
“If the government is serious about building a scholarship system based on merit, it must learn from global best practices and empower educational institutions to lead the process,” Mr Asare said.
He concluded by urging Parliament to fast-track the proposed reforms and establish an independent body to restore public trust in the system.
