Education Minister to introduce Scholarship Authority Bill

Ghana’s government is set to present a new bill to Parliament next week aimed at reforming the country's scholarship system and addressing longstanding concerns over nepotism and political favoritism.

The proposed Scholarship Authority Bill, announced by Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, seeks to establish a formal framework for the fair and transparent distribution of scholarships. The legislation is expected to introduce oversight mechanisms that will ensure that financial support for higher education is awarded based on merit and national priorities, rather than personal connections.

Speaking at the launch of the government’s flagship "No Fees Stress Policy" initiative at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua, Mr Iddrisu said the legislation is a direct response to public concerns about inequity in the award of scholarships over the years.

The announcement was made in the presence of President John Dramani Mahama, who launched the tuition-free policy for first-year students at public tertiary institutions, fulfilling a campaign promise aimed at reducing financial barriers to higher education.

Under the new “No Fees Stress Policy,” the government will cover tuition fees for all new entrants to public universities, colleges, and technical institutions. The initiative also includes full fee waivers for students with disabilities. According to Mr Iddrisu, work is underway to create a roadmap for the disbursement of these funds, in partnership with disability rights groups.

At the same event, the Education Minister noted that President’s Scholarship will be reserved for the top ten students nationwide, as determined by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and will focus on critical academic fields including Science, Mathematics, and Engineering.
“So the President’s Scholarship for Scholarship would honour 10 brilliant students, determined and declared by the West African Examinations Council, as the overall best students in the country."

“Then the President will then absorb them to benefit from his scholarship and to have his full tenure," he said.

In a further boost to student financial support, the Minister also revealed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would significantly increase its allocation to the Student Loan Trust. The funding will rise from 70 million cedis to 150 million cedis starting from the next academic year, allowing more students to access higher education through low-interest loan

According to the Minister, these developments are part of a broader strategy by the Mahama administration to overhaul Ghana’s education financing model, enhance access to higher education, and rebuild public trust in state scholarship schemes.

The “No Fees Stress Policy” launch was attended by traditional leaders, including New Juabeng Manhene Nana Kwaku Boateng III and New Juabenmanhemaa Nana Juaben Serwaa III.

The Scholarship Authority Bill is expected to be laid before Parliament early next week. If passed, it will establish a new regulatory body tasked with ensuring transparency and fairness in the distribution of all government scholarships.