The Citizens’ Coalition, a prominent alliance of civil society organisations and policy advocates, is calling on Parliament to suspend the fast-tracked passage of the Ghana Scholarships Authority Bill to allow for broader national consultations.
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This appeal follows comments by Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Chair of Parliament’s Education Committee, who revealed that Parliament aims to pass the bill by the end of the week under a certificate of urgency.
In a statement issued on July 16, the Coalition welcomed the government’s intent to reform Ghana’s scholarship framework but criticised the accelerated process.
It argued that the bill, in its current form, risks entrenching the very issues, nepotism, opacity, and political interference, it seeks to address.
“The need for reform is undeniable,” the Coalition said, “but this bill lacks key provisions for transparency, merit-based allocation, and accountability.”
According to the group, meaningful reform must begin with inclusive stakeholder engagement, including input from students, civil society, tertiary institutions, youth groups, and development partners.
“This is a law that could shape access to education and opportunity for generations,” the Coalition stressed. “It must not be rushed. It must be inclusive, informed, and legitimate.”
The statement was signed by notable advocates, including Kofi Asare of Africa Education Watch and Dr. Kojo Asante of CDD-Ghana, who called on the Speaker of Parliament to intervene and delay the bill’s passage.
