PRESS RELEASE: GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO RESTORE UTILITY SUBVENTIONS TO PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON MONDAY, JUNE 9^TH 2014 BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS) REGARDING GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO RESTORE UTILITY SUBVENTIONS TO PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on behalf of Ghanaian students wishes to, by this release; commend the Government of Ghana for partially responding positively to our solemn calls for the restoration of government subventions to public Universities and Polytechnics across the country as contained in a press statement issued by the Union on Thursday, 22^nd May, 2014.

You would recall that on the afore mentioned date, the Union organized a press conference which was addressed by Sammy Binfoh Darkwa, the NUGS president stating the Union’s position on some nagging national issues affecting education in Ghana. Issues addressed included the ailing state of GETfund due to Government’s refusal to honour its statutory obligation to the Trust Fund, the decision to withdraw Government subventions to public tertiary institutions as well as the withdrawal of Teacher and Nursing trainee allowances among other issues. We proceeded to give the Government two weeks to respond to these concerns raised else, we would embark on series of actions including the staging of nationwide demonstrations and going to court for legal redress. The ultimatum expired on Thursday, 5^th June, 2014.

However, at a “Meet the Press” briefing on Tuesday June 3, the Minister of Education, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang revealed that, contrary to government’s decision to wean all public agencies off its budgetary allocations on utility subsidies, the government has upon a second thought, rescinded its decision to include public universities and polytechnics in the implementation of this  policy.

In view of this, National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is urging all Blocs, GNUPS, Student Representative Councils (SRCs) and local NUGs leadership at our various campuses to ensure that NO STUDENT IS CHARGED A PESEWA FOR UTILITIES pursuant to the Government’s recent directive which was revealed by the substantive Minister as indicated above.  

In as much as we commend the government for this productive development, we also wish to remind the relevant authorities that the other legitimate issues we raised at the Press Conference are yet to be responded to. We are also by this release, informing the general public that, NUGS shall be heading to court in due course on the issue of the huge GETfund arrears which contravenes the GETfund Act 581. NUGS is still considering its nationwide demonstration should the government refuse to respond to the other issues raised.

Students have creative ideas that can help address some of these nagging challenges and we are ready to make them available as long as state authorities would want to engage students.

As a reminder, below are the issues raised;

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 utility subsidies to the public institutions. (Addressed)

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.

ALUTA CONTINUA!!! VICTORIA ASCERTA!!!

Ayilu Raymond Kwojori                                 Sammy Binfoh Dakwah

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

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