A youth group, Federation of Youth Associations in Ghana, is dragging six public universities to the Supreme Court on charges of allegedly implementing discriminatory admission policies. The group cites the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and four other public universities as defendants in a suit it has filed at the highest court of the land. President of the association, Owusu Ofosu-Appiah, who is leading the crusade, said most of the defendants have already been served a copy of the writ. According to him, public universities in the country have relaxed admission requirements for students who do not have the right grades but can afford to pay exorbitant fees. For example, the group said the University of Ghana charges up to GH¢1,700 as fees for foreign students, including local students who can afford but with an aggregate between 6 and 24. But regular students with aggregates exceeding 15 are denied admission. According to Lawyer Ofosu-Appiah, such a policy is “a sin against the Constitution.” “As the policy stands, it gives advantage to people who have the means to pay,” he stressed. Meanwhile the Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh Enyo, who is also a defendant in the suit, responding to the issue called for broad consultation among the universities to check the apparent discriminatory nature of admissions. He hinted that his ministry may absorb excess monies charged by the universities to reduce the burden on students. Meanwhile the president of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Tweneboah Koduah, says he welcomes any initiative that will give relief to students as well as increase intake. Authorities of the University of Ghana on Tuesday announced a 20% cut in admission with aggregate 13 as the cut-off point for regular students. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com