A former Deputy National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked the Education Minister to swiftly engage all stakeholders in the various tertiary institutions over the review of fees for the next academic year. 

Mr. Edem Agbana says the universities cannot be allowed to solely review fees without government inputs. 

According to him, that will put the students at a disadvantage and will prevent many students from getting into the universities - a situation he said has dire consequences for the country. 

Speaking in a media interview on Wednesday, December 28, Mr Agbana also urged the institutions to extend the deadline for fee payments. 

He maintained that the current economic situation makes it difficult for families to even feed themselves.

“Times are hard, and it is very difficult for many parents to raise the required amount to pay fees, the government must engage the University authorities and get them to extend the deadline for payment.”

…and I think it is also possible to resolve this fee challenge without agitation. The Minister must be proactive and engage all stakeholders,” he said. 

Earlier, some of the schools had announced about 50 percent increase in their fees for the 2022/2023 academic year without recourse to the approved rate by Parliament.

This has led to agitations within the sector with many describing the timing as wrong.

Already, the University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) has described as insensitive the rate of increment in public university fees.

USAG said due to the current economic conditions, the increment could result in students dropping out of school.

The Association said any attempt by universities to increase fees above the approved percentage will be strongly resisted by students across the country.

However, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has reiterated its directive to tertiary institutions to review fees for the next academic year by a maximum 15 percent increment.