Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has proposed that 2.5 per cent of Ghana’s petroleum royalty revenue be allocated to support the operations of the Ghana Scholarship Authority.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the Authority’s Governing Council, the Minister said the move is intended to place the Scholarship Authority on a sustainable financial footing while easing its growing debt burden.
“The Scholarship Authority is currently saddled with a debt of about 834 million cedis,” Mr. Iddrisu stated. “This proposed funding arrangement will help us reduce that debt and, more importantly, guarantee a steady and predictable flow of resources to support brilliant but needy students across the country.”
He stressed that education remains a critical pillar of national development and must be accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their financial background.
Mr. Iddrisu also charged the newly sworn-in Governing Council to ensure fairness and transparency in the award of scholarships. “There must be no favoritism, no discrimination,” he said. “Every scholarship awarded must be based on merit and need, and the names of all beneficiaries should be published for the public to see.”
The Education Minister further disclosed that he is scheduled to meet with the management of the University of Ghana on Thursday to engage them on recent increases in academic facility user fees.
“I will be meeting the University of Ghana to discuss the recent fee hikes and to explore ways of addressing the concerns of students and parents,” he noted.
The swearing-in of the Governing Council, he said, marks a renewed commitment to strengthening governance and accountability within the Scholarship Authority, as government seeks to expand access to education and support human capital development nationwide.
