Kofi Asare Dismisses Scholarship Reform Bill as Superficial

 

As Ghana’s Parliament prepares to pass the National Scholarship Authority Bill by the end of the week, critics are raising serious concerns about its effectiveness in bringing meaningful change to the country’s scholarship system.

Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Chair of Parliament’s Education Committee, announced on July 15 that the proposed bill aims to enhance transparency and strengthen oversight in the awarding of scholarships nationwide.

However, Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has sharply criticized the bill, describing it as a cosmetic reform that does little to address deeper, systemic problems. According to Asare, issues such as nepotism, political interference, and a lack of meritocracy remain unaddressed.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, July 17, Asare argued that the bill simply shifts authority within the executive branch without delivering real structural reform.

“This bill just reshuffles control within the executive,” he said. “With ministers from Education, Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General’s office on the board, political influence is still at the core. So who really benefits from this?”

Asare warned that without meaningful changes, the bill could entrench the very problems it claims to solve.

“You can’t fix a broken system by reinforcing the same flawed processes,” he noted. “What’s needed is a clear separation between regulation and scholarship allocation. The Authority should set the standards—not decide who gets the scholarships.”

He suggested a more independent model, where educational institutions or impartial bodies nominate candidates, while the Authority ensures the process follows transparent, merit-based criteria.

“Allowing the executive branch unchecked control over both regulation and distribution only perpetuates abuse,” Asare emphasized. “This bill doesn’t fix the problem—it deepens it.”

As Parliament moves toward a final vote, critics are urging lawmakers to revise the bill to ensure genuine accountability, meritocracy, and institutional independence in Ghana’s scholarship framework.

Source: theghanareport.com