Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated the Governing Board of the Ghana Scholarships Authority, signalling a major reform of the country’s scholarship administration system.
The inauguration follows the passage of Act 1149, approved by President John Dramani Mahama, which formally mandates the Authority to oversee the award of government scholarships. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Iddrisu stressed that scholarship decisions must no longer be influenced by individual discretion, nepotism or partisan considerations.
He said the new legal framework places the responsibility for awards squarely on the Authority to ensure fairness, equity and alignment with the national interest. According to the Minister, scholarships will now be awarded based on clear criteria, including academic merit, genuine financial need, defined beneficiary categories and Ghana’s broader development priorities.
Mr Iddrisu urged the Board to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency, noting that public confidence in the scholarship system depends on integrity and consistent application of the rules.
Responding on behalf of the Board, the Chairperson thanked the President and the Education Minister for the opportunity to serve. The Chairperson assured that the Authority was entering a new era marked by ethical leadership, professional competence and strategic investment in Ghana’s youth.
The Board includes representatives from key sector ministries, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Association of Ghana Industries, the Students Loan Fund, civil society organisations in education, the Authority’s Secretariat and presidential nominees.
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