The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has strongly called on Parliament to suspend the ongoing passage of the Ghana Scholarship Authority Bill, citing inadequate stakeholder engagement and the exclusion of student voices in the legislative process.

In a press statement issued on July 17, 2025, and signed by NUGS President Daniel Korley Botchway and General Secretary Yaw Ofori Bismark, the union expressed deep concern over the bill being considered under a certificate of urgency—despite there being no clear national emergency to justify bypassing the standard legislative procedure.

NUGS, which represents over 12.5 million Ghanaian students locally and abroad, lamented that it had not been consulted in the drafting or deliberations of the bill, even though students are the primary beneficiaries of any national scholarship regime.

A key concern raised by the union is the complete absence of student representation on the proposed Governing Board of the new Ghana Scholarship Authority.

According to NUGS, this omission undermines participatory governance and disregards students’ legitimate stake in decisions that directly impact their educational and professional advancement.

“Our preliminary review of the Bill reveals a significant oversight: the absence of student representation on the proposed Governing Board… This fails to reflect the principle of participatory governance,” the statement said.

The union also warned against reducing the reform of the scholarship regime to mere administrative changes, stressing that genuine reform should focus on transparency, equity, accountability, and meritocracy.

NUGS called for inclusive national dialogue involving students, tertiary institutions, youth groups, civil society, and development partners to ensure the bill reflects broader societal interests.

“We join the call by other civil society actors in urging the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament to halt the passage of the Bill and initiate a broader national consultation process,” the statement added.

NUGS affirmed its readiness to work with Parliament and the Ministry of Education to ensure the final version of the bill serves the long-term interest of Ghanaian students and promotes equal access to educational opportunities across the country.

The union concluded by reiterating its belief that education is a right, not a privilege, and urged the government to ensure that scholarship reforms are inclusive, well-considered, and future-oriented.

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