NUGS PRESS STATEMENT: CONCERNS OF GHANAIAN STUDENTS

PRESS STATEMENT READ AND ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ON CONCERNS OF GHANAIAN STUDENTS – DATED, MAY 22 2014 

You are all welcome to this press conference today 22nd May 2014. 

The leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on behalf of Ghanaian students both in Ghana and abroad wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the knowledge of the general public and draw the attention of the government to some worrying developments in the educational sector. It is our believe that if these developments are not checked and addressed immediately, we stand the risk of having our educational sector gradually collapsing and the immediate victims of such avoidable circumstance is the Ghanaian students. We are therefore using this platform to accordingly express our enormous dissatisfaction and dissolution at the way and manner the government is massaging these disturbing issues with particular reference to the lack of concern to the plight of students in Ghana 

It is factual that the Ghanaian media landscape of late has been overwhelmed with negative reportage about problems bedevilling the educational sector; which ranges from lack of basic teaching and learning materials like teachers’ notebooks, chalks, textbooks etc, to issues of industrial unrests in the educational sector, astronomical hikes in school fees among several others. 

It is also reflected in government’s failure to make do with its promise of building 50 SHS each year, converting polytechnics into technical universities as well as the construction of 10 new colleges of education in the country which were all stated in the Government’s 2012 manifesto presented to the Ghanaian student anywhere he had the opportunity to meet them. 

We are also not oblivious of the plight of our brothers and sisters who are schooling in the three regions of the north; precisely, at the second cycle institutions relative to government’s failure to release feeding grant and subventions to their school authorities that resulted in them staying at home while their counterparts in the south were in school learning.

In order to further establish our case of discontentment about the way and manner our issues are being handled by the relevant State institutions and hence the fact that the ordinary Ghanaian student is made worse off in the governance of this country, we wish to interrogate these issues under the following headings

THE AILING STATE OF THE GHANA EDUCATION TRUST FUND (GETFUND) 

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has over the period observed with great disquiet the bemoaning state of the once vibrant Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) which is now at the brink of collapse due to inadequate funding from the central government; even though there have always been budgetary allocations to the Fund. In fact, the current administrator of GetFund in the person of Mr. Sam Garbah has had cause to complain bitterly on the airwaves about government’s failure to ensure the prompt release of the huge arrears due his outfit resulting in the slow-but-sure-death of this hitherto viable state institution.

For instance, in the 2013, an amount of GHC 691 million was expected to be transferred to the fund. However, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance managed to release only GHC 133 million (representing just about 19% of the expected amount) to the GetFund. Only six (6) months’ allocations for last year have been released. 

This year, parliament has approved about GHC 739 million as allocation to the fund and GHC 97million has been collected for January and Ferbruary 2014. It is sad to note that not a pesewa or ‘kobo’ of these funds have been transferred to the GETFund. 

In total, there is an outstanding transfer of GHC 558 million. It is more disturbing to note that these are monies that have been paid by the tax payer to be transferred to the fund within 30days purposely towards the development of education in Ghana but the President Mahama led administration through the ministry of finance has deliberately refused to comply with the GETFund Act 581 (2000). 

All of these have led to serious setbacks in the development of education in Ghana. There have been several distress calls from students who are on GetFund scholarship abroad. They are now being threatened with imminent dismissals from their respect institutions due to non-payment of fees. 

Today, when you go to most of our educational institutions, you would realise that almost all GetFund projects have stalled completely; a development which has now compelled some school authorities to surcharge students as a desperate measure to raise funds for the completion of such projects

You ask yourself whether the government is really interested in sustaining the operations of this body, and the development of Education in general.

EDUCATION/ YOUTH/STUDENTS’ RELATED BOARDS

Another manifestation of President Mahama led government’s inertia and lack of commitment towards education and the youth could be seen in the President’s unwillingness to appoint substantive Boards for GetFund, Student Loan Trust Funds (SLTF) and the National Youth Authority (NYA). The term of office of all of these Boards ended in 2012. Interestingly, one can only but be fascinated by the alacrity with which the President reconstituted the Board of the Ghana Airport Authority when the mandate of the last Board expired in recent past. It actually took the president less than a week to do that, yet in the case of GetFund, we are talking about one and half years and it is still chaired by the chairman of the ruling NDC party Dr. Kwabena Adjei. Where is the political will towards education? 

We also condemn the posturing of the various Youth Organizers of the political parties. Instead of them seeking for the common good of the youth in Ghana, they have become so parochial in their activities and do not show any concern to the plight of the ordinary youth.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF NURSING AND TEACHER TRAINEE ALLOWANCES

One other cudgelling issue of concern to NUGS has to do with the government’s decision to infamously withdraw teacher trainee allowances against all odds; a policy that existed for well over four decades. As if that is not enough, the meagre allowances that were hitherto given to trainee nurses to cater for some of their needs have also not been forthcoming for the past two years. As we all know, the trainee allowances are essentially meant to serve as a motivator and a cushioning stimulus for trainees against the rising cost of education in the country so that the less privileged could also attain tertiary education. We really wonder whether the government is really concerned about the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian student. 

We condemn in no uncertain terms the cruel and unruly ordeal the MCE of Ashanti Mampong brought on the Trainee Nurses in Mampong. We demand an immediate removal of that MCE by His Excellency President Mahama. He is not a role model for our society.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDIES TO INSTITUTIONS

It is even more mindboggling to note that in the midst of all these challenges regarding the cost of education in the country, the ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance are seriously contemplating the withdrawal of all forms of subsidies and subventions to public tertiary institutions in the country especially the various public universities. They have started with utility bills and we have letters here to substantiate that. 

A move, that will only but succeed in exacerbating the already precarious woes of tertiary students who are undeniably overburdened with the exorbitant cost of tertiary education in the country. Paradoxically, all these are happening under the reign of a government that purports to be the embodiment of social democratic ideals here in Ghana.

The President and state officials enjoyed a lot of goodies during their days in school and as if that is not enough, they now enjoy free Vehicles, free fuel, free electricity, free water, free accommodation, free calls, free travels and the rest. Why do they want to deny us?

We urge all students across the nation to resist these moves with every pint of blood within us.

CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENTS

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is highly petrified by the recent revelations about the incalculable state of corruption that has engulfed the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), an otherwise laudable programme geared towards bridging the yawning developmental gap between the north and the south, which has however metamorphosed into an epitome of an unbridled corruption ever seen in the history of this country; No wonder SADA is now generally perceived as the most corrupt institution in the country. NUGS describes all the players who are destroying this wonderful SADA initiative as ENEMIES OF THE NORTH who in their words pretend to love the North but in their actions destroys every good thing meant for the North.

Aside SADA, mention can also be made of GYEEDA, SUBA, the Media Fund furore, Isofoton, Waterville, Construction Pioneers (CP) and the several corruption scandals that continue to overwhelm the country of late, where avenues are deliberately and clandestinely created for government functionaries and cronies to loot and share (to borrow the words of one Supreme Court judge) the resources of this country with impunity. Yet government tells us that there is no money for GetFund, the payment of capitation grant and caterers employed under the school feeding programme and cannot pay nursing and teacher trainee allowances as well as subsidise petroleum products among others. One can only but come to the conclusion that government is deliberately refusing to invest this much needed funds in our education. And we shall not accept this.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we wish to once again state without any shred of equivocation and cynicism that the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has been very patient with the government and indeed held on to the principles of diplomatic and constructive engagements with the state authorities in seeking amicable redress to our nagging concerns which have however proved futile. Accordingly, NUGS is giving His Excellency President Mahama and his government a two-week ultimatum to affirmatively respond to the following reliefs we are seeking, failure of which we shall advise ourselves to take the appropriate actions including series of sustained demonstrations and possible of court actions.

1) That the government should immediately release the arrears due GETfund to enable the authorities meet their budgetary obligations and the completion of their projects

2) That the government begins an urgent and a serious move in appointing a substantive Boards for Getfund, the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) as well as the National Youth Authority (NYA), which are all agencies that have students as their major stakeholders 

3) That government reinstates nursing and teacher trainee allowances that have been scrapped by the government for no justifiable reason

4) That government should release the capitation grant to basic schools which has been in arrears for well over two terms, as well as the huge arrears due the caterers employed under the School Feeding Programme.

5) The government should rescind its decision to withdraw the subventions to the public institutions. 

6) That government initiates prosecutions against all the officials that were seriously indicted in the various corruption scandals including SADA, GYEEDA, SUBA, Isofoton, Waterville and the others. 

It is indeed our fervent optimism and anticipation that the government and the relevant stakeholders would reason with us relative to the relevant issues raised and accordingly act appropriately. With all alacrity and without hesitation, we are sorry to let the government know that Ghanaian students have now run out of patience and might soon be forced to unleash our vitriolic wrath and fury within the confines of the law so that our concerns would receive the appropriate attention and redress. THANK YOU!

Long live NUGS 

Long live students activism, 

Long live Mother Ghana

ALUTA CONTINUA!!! VICTORIA ASCERTA!!!

 Sammy Binfoh Dakwah                                        Ayilu Raymond Kwojori

 (NUGS) President (NUGS)                                    Press and Info Sec.

        0208499214                                                    0240383605 

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