Education Minister directs public universities over 2023 fees

The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has directed public universities in the country to comply with the 15% fee increment approved by parliament and announced by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

In a social media post sighted by AcademicWeek, the spokesman for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng said tertiary education institutions including the University of Cape Coast, and the University of Education have complied with the 15% increment.

“University of Cape Coast, University of Education and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have complied with the parliamentary directive on fee charging. Thus an increment of 15% in fees charged last academic year

Meanwhile, Minister for Education Honorable Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has directed UG to immediately comply with the said directive and communicate the same to the public,” the Public Relations Officer (PRO) said on social media.

The Education Minister’s directive comes after the management of the University of Ghana (UG) in a press statement said its upward adjustment in academic user fees for the 2023 academic year is legal and approved.

In the press release copied to AcademicWeek, the management of Legon University has said the adjustment of fees is based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

“On 21st December 2022, the University received a letter from GTEC dated 16th December 2022, communicating that Parliament had approved an upward review of academic fees by “…15% of the last approved rates

In line with this, the University of Ghana (UG0 has adjusted fees for the 2022/2023 academic year upwards by 15% based on the gazetted approved fees for the 2019/2020 academic year

Management, therefore, assures students, parents, and all stakeholders that fees charged for the 2022/2023 academic year are legal and duly based on approved fee levels as authorized by Parliament,” UG said in a press release.

Citing the worsening economic situation of the country, the authorities of the University of Ghana said it has provided flexible fee payment terms for prospective students of the Legon-based tertiary institution to lessen their burden.

“The University recognizes the current difficult economic situation in the country, and as such has provided flexible fee payment terms for students

For example, students are allowed to register for the first semester upon payment of 50% of their academic facility user fees, with the remaining amount due in the second semester

Additionally, students with genuine financial difficulties are encouraged to apply to access support through the University’s Students Financial Aid Office,” the management of the University of Ghana noted in the press statement.