In a strongly worded statement, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has dismissed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ‘s allegations that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is responsible for a supposed astronomical increase in hall fees at the University of Ghana.
Hon. Agbana who is a former University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President, described the claims as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public, calling on Ghanaians to focus on the facts surrounding the issue.
“Fees Are Approved a Year in Advance: The University Council determines and approves all fees and charges for an academic year and the previous academic year. Thus,fees for the 2023/2024 academic year were approved during the 2022/2023 academic year, long before the NDC assumed office.”
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana MP, Ketu North
The assertion that the NDC is responsible for fee hikes is therefore erroneous. Hon. Agbana highlighted that the current University of Ghana Council is composed of representatives and nominees from the Akufo-Addo administration.
According to him, President John Dramani Mahama, who assumed office earlier this year, has yet to constitute new university councils. This further undermines the claims that the NDC influenced the increase in fees.
The Ketu North MP expressed disappointment in student leaders propagating unverified claims about the fee increases.
He stressed that student leaders are expected to understand and accurately communicate university administrative processes, rather than contributing to misinformation.
A Call for Compassionate Intervention
While debunking the allegations, Hon. Agbana joined calls for government intervention to ease the financial burden on students and their families. He appealed to the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, to explore avenues to reduce the fees.
Hon. Agbana underscored the importance of education as a cornerstone of national development and emphasized the need for decisive action to ensure accessibility and equity in education.
“Education remains a cornerstone of national development, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that no student is left behind due to financial constraints.
“A swift and compassionate response from the government would not only provide relief but also reaffirm its commitment to prioritising the welfare of the youth, who represent the future of this nation.”
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana MP, Ketu North
The controversy over hall fees at the University of Ghana has sparked widespread debate, with various stakeholders expressing concerns over affordability in higher education.
Hon. Agbana’s statement aligns with a broader push for increased government support to mitigate the financial challenges faced by students.
As the discourse unfolds, stakeholders in education are urged to prioritise factual communication and work toward solutions that ensure equitable access to higher education for all Ghanaians.
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