The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has expressed strong objection to the inauguration of the Scholarship Authority Board, citing the absence of student representation as a serious breach of fairness, transparency, and participatory governance.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 8, 2026, NUGS, which represents over 12.5 million Ghanaian students at home and abroad, described the exclusion of students from the Board as “a departure from established practice, prior assurances, and the broader ethos of participatory governance.”
“Students are not incidental stakeholders within the scholarship framework; they are its core purpose,” the union said.
“A Board operating without student input risks detachment from the lived realities of beneficiaries and undermines the very objectives the Authority was created to achieve.”
The student body called for urgent engagement between the Government, the Scholarship Authority, and NUGS to address the omission.
The union also urged the President, the Minister of Education, and other relevant authorities to reconstitute the Board to include meaningful student representation nominated by NUGS.
Further, NUGS recommended that the Scholarship Authority Act be amended to expressly provide for student representation, citing best practices in education governance.
Rashid Ibrahim, President of NUGS, emphasised the union’s commitment to constructive dialogue but warned that the organization would not hesitate to use all legitimate and lawful means to ensure students’ voices are respected in decisions affecting their academic futures.
The union stressed that scholarships exist to promote equity, expand access to education, and secure opportunities for students, particularly those from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.
NUGS described the current Board composition as undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the Scholarship Authority, highlighting that effective public administration must be inclusive, participatory, and responsive to stakeholders.
