The Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS) has raised objections to the inauguration of the Scholarship Authority Board, citing the exclusion of student representation as unacceptable and detrimental to effective scholarship governance.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 8, GNUTS, the nationally recognised body representing students in Technical Universities, Technical Institutes and TVET-related institutions, said it was “gravely concerned” by the composition of the Board, which it noted does not include students.

“As a key stakeholder within Ghana’s educational ecosystem, particularly in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector, GNUTS finds this omission both unacceptable and counterproductive,” the statement said.

This follows the inauguration of the board by the education minister, Haruna Iddrisu.

Read also: Education Minister inaugurates Governing Board of the Ghana Scholarships Authority

The Union stressed that students are the primary beneficiaries of scholarships and should not be excluded from decision-making structures that directly affect their education and welfare.

“Students are not peripheral actors in the scholarship framework; they are its central purpose,” GNUTS stated, warning that any governance arrangement without student input raises concerns about “legitimacy, equity, transparency, and democratic accountability”.

GNUTS noted that scholarships play a critical role in enabling technical students to acquire skills, undertake industrial training and improve employability, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to the Union, decisions taken by the Scholarship Authority on eligibility, disbursement timelines and sector prioritisation have a direct impact on students’ academic progression and future productivity.

The Union cautioned that excluding students from the Board risks detaching scholarship governance from the lived realities of beneficiaries.

“A Scholarship Authority Board that operates without student representation risks becoming disconnected from the needs of technical students, whose training requirements and cost structures differ significantly from those of traditional university students,” it said.

GNUTS also expressed concern that the absence of student voices could deepen existing inequalities in scholarship access for technical and TVET students. It pointed to persistent challenges such as inequitable allocation criteria, delays in disbursement, limited grievance redress mechanisms, and weak transparency.

“Without student representation, disparities in funding prioritisation and access risk worsening,” the statement warned, adding that scholarship eligibility frameworks often fail to account for the cost of tools, equipment, workshops and industrial attachments required in technical education.

The Union further argued that the exclusion of students contradicts Ghana’s broader commitment to skills development, youth employment and industrial transformation.

“Student representation on education-related boards has long been recognised as a democratic convention and best practice,” GNUTS said, describing the current situation as a departure from participatory governance norms.

As part of its demands, GNUTS said it “unequivocally rejects the current composition of the Scholarship Authority Board” and called for the immediate inclusion of a student representative, with specific consideration for technical and TVET students.

“We call on the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Education and the Scholarship Authority to uphold the principles of inclusivity, fairness and participatory governance,” the Union stated, while reaffirming its readiness to engage constructively with all stakeholders.

GNUTS concluded by emphasising that a credible scholarship system cannot be governed without the involvement of students. “A system that determines access to education, opportunity and social mobility cannot be governed about students, without students,” the statement said, adding that excluding student representation “erodes trust, weakens accountability, and undermines the very purpose of the Scholarship Authority”.

Below is the full statement by the Union