Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for legislation to regulate the activities of the scholarship secretariat going forward.
He advised that due to the government’s lack of interest in matters that do not bring them votes, Members of Parliament should initiate a private member’s bill in that regard.
His appeal comes after a widespread public uproar against the Scholarship Secretariat over suspicions that scholarships were awarded to those deemed financially rich.
Reacting to the development on Wednesday, April 3, Mr. Kpebu emphasised the significance of establishing clear standards to manage the distribution of public scholarships, ensuring the equitable use of public funds.
“Private members bill can start because the government often doesn’t act fast when it deals with matters that don’t directly bring votes. At least when the MPs start from the private member’s bill later, the government can join but at least the conversation can continue,” said lawyer Kpebu.
He advised that these guidelines be written so that persons in charge of administering these scholarships can face sanctions if the scholarships are not awarded to the appropriate persons.
“It’s been well articulated by various government appointees, ministers of education, etcetera, that government policy is to give scholarships to brilliant but needy students. So that is what it is. But it appears that, looking at what we have now, it will make sense to expand, and have more regulations on it.
“So things like, if we were to find out that the scholarship secretariat gives out scholarships to people who don’t meet their criteria, the chief executive will be sacked, You know, things that make it more biting.
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“But so far, what we are learning is that we need a more expansive act that will have direct consequences for the chief executive. If you do this, you are out of the door. I think with that, it will be more biting because for Kingsley Agyemang [Scholarship Registrar] to say that no, for him, all he’s aware of is that he should be a Ghanaian and have a recommendation. That tells you a lot of what is going on,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Ayemang, has also called for swift legislation to regulate the work of the Secretariat.
“Sorry to say that there is no establishment Act for the Scholarship Secretariat. It’s been an issue that needs public discussions. There’s no enabling Act. So looking into the future, I think we need a scholarship Act,” he said in an interview on Accra-based JoyNews.