NUGS EXECUTIVES CHALLENGE HON. OKUDJETO ABLAKWA OVER HIS CLAIMS THAT STUDENT LEADERS HAVE ENDORSED THE PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS BY STUDENTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

20th April, 2015 

SHOW US THE COMMUNIQUÉ OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE 

We leadership of NUGS have received with utter dismay, comments attributed to the Deputy Education Minister (Tertiary Division), Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa to the effect that stakeholders in education including student leaders have agreed to a cost sharing arrangement between government on one hand and students on the other in respect of the payment of utility bills at the nation's tertiary institutions. Hon Ablakwa initially made this revelation at KNUST on April 15 whilst addressing students during the second edition of the Ministry's campus connect series. He has since been repeating same on several media platforms he grants interview to. This development has justifiably created a lot of fears and panic among students across the country; many of whom have vowed to take us on for such gaffe. We therefore deem it expedient to come clear on the matter and put the facts in proper perspectives.

In setting the records straight, we wish to begin by stating unequivocally that the claims by Okudjeto Ablakwa are factually incorrect, spurious, and as such should be disregarded by all. We are by this release, DARING hon. Ablakwa to make public the said communiqué he claims forms the basis for government's decision to partially withdraw utility subsidies to be borne by students which was reached at the end of a stakeholder meeting. If Ablakwa fails to produce that communiqué which he claims received the endorsement of NUGS (or its rep), then he should not only desist from making such claims, but should also retract and render an unqualified apology to the leadership of NUGS for this unwarranted disservice else we shall advise ourselves. 

If government intends to withdraw utility subsidies to public institutions, then it should gather the necessary courage to make that point loud and clear rather than this cowardly approach of trying to "implicate" student leaders in this enterprise as a coverup for government's unpopular move. It is very much obvious that government is afraid of the consequences and political ramifications of such move hence the decision to play a smart one at all of us. 

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to once again state emphatically that NUGS has NOT consented to any communiqué that involves levying students the cost of utility bills. In fact, we are still yet to see the final resolution or communique of the stakeholder meeting held on 25th March at UPSA Auditorium. We therefore find it disingenuous that Ablakwa continuously makes reference to this communiqué that nobody but himself has seen. Why hasn't it been issued to the media as agreed upon? Obviously, a communique cannot be a secret document and we demand to see it NOW and NOW. Enough of this political gymnastics and merry go round hon. 

We wish to conclude by reiterating our long standing impregnable position in respect of this matter that NUGS shall vehemently RESIST any attempt by government to surcharge students for utility bills. That will not and cannot happen else the students of this country will shake the very foundation of our government with an unwavering ALUTA.  

Thank you.

Signed 

Iddi Muhayu-deen

NUGS General Secretary

(0245335197/0202789171)

Rhodalyn Eshun 

Press and Info Secretary

(0246701359)