The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called for an urgent amendment to the Scholarship Authority Act to explicitly provide for student representation on the Authority’s Governing Board, following what it describes as an unsatisfactory response from the Ministry of Education.
In a press statement dated January 9, 2026 and signed by NUGS President Rashid Ibrahim Esq. and General Secretary Benedict Amelorku, NUGS said it had taken note of the Ministry’s explanation regarding the composition and inauguration of the Governing Board but insisted that key concerns about student representation remain unresolved.
According to NUGS, Ghana’s education governance framework already establishes a clear precedent for student participation in decision-making bodies. The union cited the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Act, which expressly provides for a student representative nominated by NUGS to serve on its governing body. NUGS argued that this precedent recognises the union as the legitimate voice of Ghanaian students and questioned why a similar provision was not included in the Scholarship Authority Act.
The union also rejected claims that it falls under the umbrella of civil society organisations. NUGS stated categorically that it is not, and has never been, a civil society organisation, but rather a government-sanctioned, membership-based student union mandated to represent students at all levels of education. It added that the immediate past President of NUGS had publicly refuted any suggestion that the union agreed to be represented through a civil society arrangement during stakeholder consultations.
NUGS further stressed that representation on the Scholarship Authority Governing Board must be explicit and guaranteed by law, not implied through an undefined umbrella structure. It noted that the Authority’s mandate directly affects students and therefore requires clear, unambiguous student representation, preferably through a representative nominated by NUGS.
In light of these concerns, the union is urging Parliament and the Ministry of Education to amend the Scholarship Authority Act under a certificate of urgency to include an express provision for NUGS representation. NUGS said such an amendment would eliminate ambiguity, restore stakeholder confidence, and align the Authority’s governance with established best practices in the education sector.
The union also warned that history should not record that the Scholarship Authority Act was passed without a provision for a NUGS-appointed student representative during the tenure of a former NUGS President as Minister of Education.
Despite its firm stance, NUGS emphasised that its position is not adversarial. The union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the Ministry of Education, Parliament, and other stakeholders, stating that its advocacy is grounded in law, precedent, and the collective interests of Ghanaian students.
