The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has voiced strong objections to the composition of the newly inaugurated Scholarship Authority Board, citing the complete absence of student representation as a major flaw that undermines legitimacy and inclusivity.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 8, 2026, NUGS described the exclusion of students from the board as a departure from established democratic conventions in education governance.
The union, which serves as the umbrella body for approximately 12.5 million Ghanaian students both at home and abroad, emphasized that scholarships are fundamentally designed to promote equity, expand access to education, and support students from vulnerable backgrounds.
“Students are not incidental stakeholders within the scholarship framework; they are its core purpose,” the statement read. It further argued that a board without student input risks being detached from the realities faced by beneficiaries, potentially affecting key areas such as eligibility criteria, selection processes, disbursement, monitoring, and grievance handling.
NUGS highlighted that effective public administration relies on principles of inclusivity, stakeholder participation, transparency, and responsiveness. The union noted its long-standing role as an integral stakeholder in education policy, pointing out that student representation in similar institutions has become a norm to enhance credibility and effectiveness.
“The exclusion of students from the Scholarship Authority Board therefore departs from established practice, prior assurances, and the broader ethos of participatory governance,” the statement added, calling for moral reflection on a system that governs educational access “about students, without students.”
In its demands, NUGS unequivocally rejected the current board composition due to the lack of student representation. The union urged for immediate rectification to restore public confidence and strengthen the social contract between the state and Ghana’s youth.
