The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has renewed its demand for explicit student representation on the Governing Board of the Scholarship Authority, urging the Ministry of Education to amend the governing law to reflect established precedents in education governance.
In a press statement released and signed by President of the Union, Rashid Ibrahim Esq. and General Secretary Benedict Amelorku on January 9, 2026, NUGS said it had taken note of the Ministry’s response to concerns raised over the composition and inauguration of the Scholarship Authority’s Governing Board but stressed that key issues regarding student representation remain unresolved.
According to NUGS, Ghana’s education governance framework already provides a clear precedent for student inclusion, citing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Act, which expressly allows for a student representative nominated by NUGS to serve on its governing body.
The Union argued that this recognition affirms NUGS as the legitimate voice of Ghanaian students and that any deviation from this standard undermines student representation.
The Union also rejected claims that NUGS is represented under a broader civil society organisation (CSO) umbrella, stating categorically that it is not, and has never been, a CSO.
NUGS described itself as a government-sanctioned, membership-based student union with a distinct mandate to represent students at all levels of education.
NUGS further noted that the immediate past President of the Union had publicly refuted suggestions that NUGS agreed to be classified or represented under a CSO arrangement during stakeholder consultations, adding that such a position is inconsistent with the Union’s institutional identity and historical role.
Emphasising the need for clarity, NUGS maintained that student representation on the Scholarship Authority Board must be explicit and guaranteed by law, rather than implied through undefined structures.
The Union argued that the Authority’s mandate directly affects students, making their direct representation essential.
In light of these concerns, NUGS called for the urgent amendment of the Scholarship Authority Act under a certificate of urgency to expressly provide for a NUGS-nominated student representative.
The Union said this would remove ambiguity, restore stakeholder confidence, and align the Authority’s governance framework with best practices already established in the education sector.
“It should not be in our history books that under the tenure of a former NUGS President as Minister of Education, the Scholarship Authority Act was passed without any provision for a NUGS-appointed student representative,” the statement cautioned.
The statement reaffirmed NUGS’ commitment to constructive engagement with the Ministry of Education, Parliament, and other stakeholders, stressing that its position is principled rather than adversarial and aimed at safeguarding the collective interests of Ghanaian students.
Source: happyghana.com
