By: Maltiti Sayida Sadick
The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has emphasized that the award of government scholarships must be guided strictly by merit, need and specialized training aligned with national development priorities, rather than political influence or personal privilege.
He made these remarks at the inauguration and swearing In of the Governing Council of the Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA), a 14-member body comprising representatives from key ministries, civil society, industry and academia.
According to the Minister, the scholarship system must be administered free from cronyism, corruption and nepotism, stressing that it was precisely for this reason that government upgraded the former Scholarship Secretariat into a fully-fledged authority through legislation.
“It is unacceptable for Members of Parliament to award scholarships to themselves and their children when they can afford education, while brilliant but needy students are denied the opportunity,” he said.
Hon. Iddrisu stated that scholarships should fall into three clear categories:
- Merit-based awards,
- Need-based support, and
- Specialized areas critical to national development.
He cited emerging global trends such as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, noting that Ghana must deliberately sponsor students in these fields to build capacity for the future.
The Minister also acknowledged that, in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, international cooperation and humanitarian support, Ghana may occasionally extend scholarships to students from other countries, particularly conflict-affected regions.
Touching on tertiary education, Hon. Iddrisu challenged institutions such as the University of Ghana, KNUST and the University of Cape Coast to rethink their training models, arguing that many graduates are not adequately prepared for the private sector and the modern job market.
He directed the new council to publish the names of all scholarship awardees, introduce affirmative action quotas, and prioritize regions and disciplines facing critical shortages, such as doctors and specialized nurses, who would be bonded to return and serve the country.
The Minister urged the council to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of its duties.
