The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the government to urgently amend the Scholarship Authority Act to allow students to be directly represented on the Authority’s Governing Board.

In a statement issued on January 9, 2026, the student body said it was not satisfied with the Ministry of Education’s response to concerns raised about the board’s composition. NUGS said the current arrangement does not clearly protect the interests of students, who are the main beneficiaries of the Scholarship Authority.

NUGS explained that Ghana already has clear examples of student representation in education governance. It pointed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), where the law allows NUGS to nominate a student representative to serve on the board. According to the union, the same approach should have been used in the Scholarship Authority Act.

READ ALSO: Scholarship Board: We’ll Fight Until Students Get Representation – NUGS

The union also dismissed claims that it is represented through civil society organisations. NUGS stressed that it is not a civil society organisation but a recognised national student union with the mandate to speak for students across the country. It added that past NUGS leadership has openly rejected any attempt to classify the union under civil society groups.

NUGS said student representation on the Scholarship Authority board must be clearly stated in law and not assumed or implied. It argued that decisions taken by the Authority directly affect students and therefore require a guaranteed student voice, preferably through a NUGS-nominated representative.

The union therefore appealed to Parliament and the Ministry of Education to amend the law under a certificate of urgency. It believes this will remove uncertainty, build public trust, and bring the Scholarship Authority in line with accepted standards in Ghana’s education sector.

While maintaining a strong position, NUGS said it remains open to dialogue and cooperation. The union described its action as principled and focused on protecting the interests of Ghanaian students, not as an attack on any institution.

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The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has rejected claims by the Ministry of Education that students are sufficiently represented under a civil society umbrella on the Scholarship Authority Board.

Speaking to Citi News, NUGS President Rashid Ibrahim Esq. argued that laws such as the GETFund Act explicitly recognise NUGS as the legitimate voice of students. He emphasised that representation on the Scholarship Authority Board must be explicitly stated in law, not merely implied.

The Union is calling for an urgent amendment to the Scholarship Authority Act to guarantee student representation on the board.

READ ALSO: Amend Scholarship Authority Act – NUGS Urges Parliament

“We need an amendment of the Act, to include in it and to be explicitly provided, unambiguous, that there must be a student rep appointed by NUGS as it is seen in the GETFund Act. That is what we want but that was not addressed. We also needed a stakeholder engagement meeting with the Minister again, that was also not addressed. We were assured that it will be amended, that it will be inserted in the Act that we will have a rep. To our surprise, the Act has been passed with board inaugurated without student rep. We see it as a betrayal of trust,” he said.

Ibrahim warned that if the Ministry fails to respond, NUGS will escalate the matter to the highest offices in the country.

“If the ministry does not respond to our call, we intend to write an official petition to the President and the Speaker of Parliament and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education for this issue to be addressed because if this issue is not addressed, I don’t think that the Ghanaian students will allow this matter to rest and as president, I will not even feel happy,” he added.

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A deadly bee attack at Anloga EP Basic School in the Volta Region has resulted in the deaths of at least two students, with five teachers stung and 23 others injured, according to local reports. The incident occurred during school hours, causing widespread panic as teachers and staff rushed to protect the children from the aggressive swarm.

Eyewitnesses said the attack began suddenly, catching students and staff off guard. Several pupils reportedly ran in different directions in an attempt to escape, while teachers and school authorities tried to organize a safe evacuation. The quick response by the staff helped prevent further injuries, although the chaotic nature of the incident made it difficult to control the swarm immediately.

Emergency services were alerted and rushed to the scene to provide medical assistance. The injured, including both students and teachers, were taken to nearby health facilities for treatment. Authorities confirmed that the two students who died succumbed to multiple stings before help could arrive.

Local community leaders and education officials have expressed shock and grief over the tragedy, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to prevent such incidents in schools located in rural and forested areas. “This is a sad day for our community,” said a local official. “We must take steps to ensure the safety of our children while they pursue their education.”

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has reportedly dispatched representatives to Anloga EP Basic School to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. Officials indicated that the situation would be assessed to implement safety protocols and ensure that schools in the region are prepared for potential wildlife encounters, including bees.

Experts in agriculture and entomology note that mass bee attacks can occur when swarms feel threatened or disturbed, particularly in areas near hives or flowering fields. Preventive strategies may include installing warning systems, creating safe zones for students, and educating school staff and pupils on how to respond during such emergencies.

Parents and guardians in the Anloga community have called for immediate support for the affected families, including medical care for the injured students and psychological support for those traumatized by the incident. Community volunteers and NGOs have also pledged assistance to help the school recover from the tragic event.

This unfortunate incident highlights the vulnerability of schools to natural hazards in rural areas and underscores the need for proactive measures to protect children and educators from unforeseen dangers. As investigations continue, authorities are expected to implement strategies to prevent similar tragedies and safeguard students’ well-being.

Read the statement by Ghana Education Service below:

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