Dr Kojo Asante, Director of Partnership and Policy Engagement at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has stated that the Scholarship Authority Bill, in its current form, will not resolve the long-standing problems of nepotism and political influence.
Speaking on behalf of the Citizens’ Coalition, a network of civil society organisations and eminent individuals, Dr Asante urged Parliament to halt the passage of the Scholarship Authority Bill, which is currently being considered under a certificate of urgency.
The Coalition’s statement was signed by key members, including Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, and Dr Kojo Asante himself.
Dr Asante emphasised that there is no harm in pausing the process to allow for consultative engagement, which would lead to robust legislation governing scholarship awards.
In an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he acknowledged that while designing a legal framework to regulate scholarship awards is a positive step, the fast-tracking of the bill is problematic.
He told host Kwabena Agyapong that the bill, as it stands, does not adequately address the structural weaknesses of the existing scholarship regime.
Dr Asante warned that if passed into law, the bill would legitimise the very issues of opacity, nepotism, and political interference that have been consistently complained about over the years.
He expressed concern that the bill fails to address transparency, accountability, and the establishment of a merit-based system for scholarship awards, which are in line with international best practices.
“It is unfortunate that the bill has successfully passed through the second reading and is now at the consideration stage without any public consultation,” he argued. “This is an important bill that a lot of people are interested in to ensure we do the right thing. Yet, from Tuesday through to Wednesday, we have already passed the stages of second reading and consideration without any public consultation.
Some of the things we have seen in the bill do not even address the issues we had spoken about. We need to pay attention and consult wisely on ensuring that we develop a strong legal framework to guide the administration of scholarships. There is no need to rush through the process.”
Dr Kojo Asante maintained that the government ought to engage in public consultation and avoid rushing the bill’s passage.
He further criticised the Committee on Education for not allowing for public engagement or the submission of memos before draughting the bill for consideration.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
