Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG) has expressed discontent with the decision of some colleges of education to charge students for utilities despite directives from the Education Ministry not to bill trainees with utilities.

A statement jointly signed by Tagbor Sampson, Baguri John and David Nyagba, President, Coordinator and General Secretary respectively noted that some principals of some colleges have flouted the ministry's directive.

The Education Ministry re-affirmed on May, 31 this year at a stakeholders meeting that trainees must not be billed for water and electricity, however, the colleges continue to bill them.

Find below the full statement.

PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS REMAINS ILLEGAL FOR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

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We bring you warmest greetings from the National Secretariat of the Teacher Trainees Association of Ghana (TTAG).

The leadership of TTAG would like to, for the last time, register its discontentment in a diplomatic way; with Principals who consistently extort monies from Teacher Trainees, all in the name of Utility Bills.

There have been several reports on issues pertaining the billing of Trainees with utilities. The Government of the Republic of Ghana has on countless platforms made it conspicuous that, students of Tertiary Institutions, for that matter Teacher Trainees, should not be worried about the payment of Utilities.

This position of Government has been affirmed again in a meeting at the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 between the hours of 3pm and 6pm; present at the meeting were the Ministry of Education (MoE), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Water Company Limited, VC ghana, PRINCOF, Ministry of Finance, TTAG, NUGS and GNUPS. 

We therefore respectfully appeal to the Authorities of our tertiary institutions, especially, Colleges of Education to desist from the charging of Utilities in the coming academic year (2016/2017) since it is illegal and a violation of Government's directives.

We again passionately appeal to Principals to desist from harassing our constituents over the payment of utilities and to also make refunds for those who have been coerced and humiliated to pay.

Our gallant men and women in the Colleges of Education are peace loving students who are striving to make a life, we would not want any action and/or inaction of College Authorities to engineer any form of radicalism in pursuit of our right, for we are poised to desist any form of unwarranted charges levied us. 

We call on all Trainees to put in much effort in their academic work as they prepare for the impending end of the second-semester examination. It is very important to once again remind you of our commitment to serving you best.

Thank you.

TTAG... WE MEAN WELL!

Signed,