The Citizens’ Coalition, a network of civil society organisations and eminent individuals, has called on Parliament to halt the passage of the Scholarship Authority Bill currently being considered under a certificate of urgency.
The group’s concern comes after the Chairman of Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, in an interview on July 15, said that Parliament is set to pass the National Scholarship Authority Bill by the end of this week, a step he said is crucial towards reforming Ghana’s scholarship system and improving oversight.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the Coalition commended the government for seeking to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for managing scholarships in Ghana.
However, they criticised the fast-tracking of the bill, arguing that there is no pressing emergency to justify bypassing normal legislative processes.
“The need for reform is undeniable,” the statement read, “yet the Bill in its current form does not adequately address the structural weaknesses of the existing scholarships regime. Rather than remedying the prevailing opacity, nepotism, and political interference, it risks institutionalising them.”
The Coalition expressed concern that the proposed legislation lacks the necessary provisions to establish a transparent, accountable, and merit-based system of scholarship administration aligned with international best practices.
They emphasised that any attempt at reform must begin with comprehensive stakeholder engagement. These consultations, they noted, should include students, youth groups, tertiary institutions, civil society, and development partners.
“A law that shapes access to academic and professional opportunity for generations of Ghanaians must not be passed in haste. It must be informed, inclusive, and legitimate,” the Coalition stated.
The group is urging the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament to intervene and facilitate the suspension of the legislative process to make way for wider consultations.
The statement was signed by key members of the Coalition, including Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, and Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Partnerships and Policy Engagement at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
