The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has urged the government to swiftly revise the Scholarship Authority Act to ensure direct student representation on the Authority’s Governing Board.
In a statement dated January 9, 2026, the union expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Education’s response to its concerns over the board’s composition. NUGS argued that the existing structure fails to adequately safeguard the interests of students, who are the primary beneficiaries of the Scholarship Authority.
According to the union, Ghana already provides clear precedents for student participation in educational governance. It cited the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), where legislation permits NUGS to nominate a student representative to the board. NUGS maintained that a similar provision should have been incorporated into the Scholarship Authority Act.
The student body also rejected assertions that it is represented through civil society organizations. It emphasized that NUGS is not a civil society group but a legally recognized national student union mandated to represent students nationwide. The union added that successive leaderships have consistently opposed any attempt to categorize NUGS as a civil society organization.
NUGS stressed that student representation on the Scholarship Authority’s board must be explicitly guaranteed by law rather than inferred. It noted that the Authority’s decisions have a direct impact on students and therefore require a formally recognized student voice, ideally through a NUGS-nominated representative.
Consequently, the union called on Parliament and the Ministry of Education to amend the Act under a certificate of urgency. It believes such a move would eliminate ambiguity, strengthen public confidence, and align the Scholarship Authority with established governance practices within Ghana’s education sector.
Despite its firm stance, NUGS stated that it remains open to engagement and collaboration. The union clarified that its position is driven by principle and the need to protect students’ interests, not by hostility toward any institution.
