In a bold move to reward academic excellence and promote equity in education, Ghana’s Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed plans for a President’s Scholarship that will fully sponsor 10 outstanding WASSCE candidates every other year.
Expanding the Program
Originally, the scholarship scheme was intended to support only three top students. However, at the directive of President John Dramani Mahama, the program will now extend to ten beneficiaries. The recipients will be selected strictly on merit, based on academic performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to Iddrisu, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will remain entirely in charge of identifying the top students — ensuring that the process is transparent and free from external interference.
“No interference with WAEC’s determination of the best students — ten of them will receive the President’s continuous support,” the minister affirmed.
Funding and Management
The proposed scholarships will be fully funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). To oversee the implementation and administration of the scheme, the government plans to establish a new Scholarship Authority. This entity will be created through the Scholarship Authority Bill that Iddrisu intends to table in Parliament in the coming weeks.
One of the key motivations behind the bill is to mitigate nepotism and cronyism historically associated with scholarship awards — making sure that deserving students, regardless of background or influence, benefit from state support.
Focus Areas & Criteria
Beyond overall academic excellence, the government intends to give special consideration to students in critical disciplines, including Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. Iddrisu also hinted that future expansions might include candidates from neighboring West African countries, linking Ghana’s commitment to regional academic collaboration.
As implementation details are finalized, the announcement has been welcomed by students, educators, and civil society as a promising step toward elevating academic achievement and widening access to higher education. If implemented with integrity, the President’s Scholarship could become a flagship program in Ghana’s educational legacy.
