The Parliament of Ghana has suspended consideration of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, 2025, to allow for further consultations with stakeholders.
The decision was on the request of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, during parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The minister informed the House that the suspension was necessary to address concerns raised by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Education.
“Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the Office of the President related to me some concerns that have been communicated, and therefore Mr Speaker, I sought the chairman’s indulgence if we can stay further consideration as I do the consultation. As I indicated, on Tuesday we will engage the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Education,” the minister said.
The consultation, according to the minister, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, to ensure stakeholder input is incorporated before the bill progresses.
The Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill, laid before Parliament on July 8, 2025, aims to reform the country’s scholarship system by elevating the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat into a full-fledged authority.
The proposed legislation seeks to eliminate nepotism and cronyism in scholarship awards, ensuring allocations are based on merit and need, particularly in critical disciplines like science, mathematics, and education.
It includes provisions to end government-funded foreign scholarships for courses offered in Ghanaian universities, aiming to strengthen local institutions and promote fairness.
However, civil society groups, including Africa Education Watch, have raised concerns about the bill’s governance structure, arguing that it grants excessive executive control, which could undermine transparency efforts.
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