The Government will next week place before Parliament the Scholarship Authority Bill, as part of efforts to deal with nepotism and cronyism in the award of scholarships. 

Haruna Iddrisu, the Education Minister, announced this at the launch of the Government’s flagship education programme, dubbed the “No Fees Stress Policy” initiative at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional Capital. 

The launch was performed by President John Dramani Mahama. 

The Education Minister noted that one of the enduring legacies of President Mahama would be the President’s Scholarship, which would award brilliant students in the country’s need areas such as Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. 

“So the President’s Scholarship for Scholarship would honour 10 brilliant students, determined and declared by the West African Examinations Council, as the overall best students in the country,” he said. 

“Then the President will then absorb them to benefit from his scholarship and to have his full tenure.” 

Touching on the launch of the “No Fees Stress Policy” initiative, Mr Iddrisu said it was in fulfilment of President Mahama’s campaign promise to Ghanaians. 

Mr Iddrisu, who described President Mahama as a fountain of honour, said: “Today from that fountain, they will drink with the students in our first-year tertiary public institutions across Ghana”.  

He said the Policy also extended to persons with disability, who the President had guaranteed full fee payment.  

The Minister said his Deputy, together with the Chair of the Federation for Disabled People were working on the roadmap for the effective takeoff of the disbursement for the students. 

Mr Iddrisu said next academic year, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would double its allocation to the Student Loan Trust from 70 million to 150 million to support students who might want to access it further.  

The “No Fees Stress Policy” initiative, which is in fulfilment of President Mahama’s campaign promise, is part of efforts by the Government to boost enrollment into the nation’s tertiary institutions. 

The Policy will provide free tuition for all first-year students in the nation’s public tertiary institutions. 

The event was graced by New Juabeng Manhene Nana Kwaku Boateng III and New Juabenmanhemaa Nana Juaben Serwaa III.