Coalition Urges Pause on Ghana Scholarships Bill for Consultation
Parliament suspended consideration of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025, on July 17, 2025, to allow further stakeholder consultations, following a request by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu. The decision, prompted by concerns from the Citizens’ Coalition, including Africa Education Watch and CDD-Ghana, aims to address issues of transparency and inclusivity.
The Citizens’ Coalition, in a July 17 statement, criticized the bill’s urgency clause, arguing no national emergency justifies bypassing public input. While supporting reforms to curb nepotism, the group, including Manasseh Azure Awuni, warned that the bill risks entrenching opacity and political interference, per The Herald Ghana. NUGS echoed this, noting the exclusion of student representation on the proposed Authority’s board, per The Herald Ghana.
Iddrisu, who laid the bill on July 9, emphasized its goal to create a merit-based scholarship system under the Education Ministry, removing the Secretariat from the President’s Office. The bill, backed by MP Edem Agbana, aims to end cronyism, focusing on disciplines like science and education, per MyJoyOnline. However, Kofi Asare of Africa Education Watch criticized its governance framework as merely shifting executive control.
Engagements with civil society groups began on July 15, with further consultations scheduled for July 22, 2025. The Coalition demands broader dialogue with students, tertiary institutions, and development partners to ensure a transparent, accountable system, citing 200 stranded Ghanaian students abroad due to unpaid tuition, per The Herald Ghana. The suspension reflects Mahama’s commitment to inclusive governance, but critics urge a clear timeline to avoid delays.