NUGS rejects UG 2% discount on 15% fees increment for 2022/23

The leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the management of the University of Ghana (UG) and its stakeholders to increase the approved one-time discount on fees from 2 per cent to 5 per cent.

Commenting on the one-time discount of 2% on academic user fees, the President of the Students Union, Dennis Appiah Larbi said the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) was expecting a 5% reduction in the 2023 fees.

But, a staff of the Univesity of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo reacting to the Ghana Students Union concerns has entreated the President of NUGS to commend the Council of the University for the 2% discount on the user fees.

The National Union of Ghana Students call comes after the management of the University of Ghana after consultation with relevant stakeholders approved a one-time 2% discount on the 15% fee increment for the 2022/2023 academic year.

In a statement copied to AcademicWeek, the University said the 2% discount on the 2022/23 academic user fee applies to full fee-paying programmes, programmes at the Accra City Campus and distance education programmes.

“This discount has been applied to the accounts of affected students. Affected students may contact the Students Accounts Office for any enquiries through students.accounts@ug.edu.gh or by telephone on 0209114001.” UG said.

The approval of the discount of 2% by the University comes after NUGS as part of its ‘stop tertiary fees increment’ campaign called on the government to suspend the increment of public tertiary institution fees for the 2022/2023 academic year.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek.com, the Students Union said the increasing cost of higher education is crippling the abilities of thousands of Ghanaian students, both at home and abroad, to continue their education.

“Covid-19, the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, and its ravaging impact have led to a loss of sources of income. Students, the majority of whom are not working, are most likely to bear the consequence of these economic hardships,” it stated.

Citing the release of fees scheduled by some government tertiary institutions in the country, the leadership of the National Students Union said it has observed some public education institutions have increased the fees by 25%.

“Our humble plea is that you step in to cushion the plight of families and students by halting any further increase in Academic User Facility Fees and Accommodation fees for the next academic year,” NUGS has urged Akufo-Addo.

The suspension of the tertiary institutions fees increment the Ghana Union said will go a long way to ensure that the country does not witness a further increase in school dropouts but for all students can access quality higher education.

“The sustainable development of Ghana can only be guaranteed if we have a knowledgeable workforce. We can only ensure this if we make higher education progressively accessible and affordable for all students,” NUGS noted.