The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) says it will hold a press conference on November 25, to articulate its position on the 2022 Budget Statement accordingly.

This follows a meeting with the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, November 24.

In a statement by the NUGS President on Wednesday, the Union indicated that the scheduled press conference will take place at the University of Ghana, Accra City Campus at 9:00am.

Explaining the essence of the presser, NUGS President, Mr. Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye told MyJoyOnline.com that it would be used to inform the general public about what transpired at the meeting between the leadership of the Union and the Finance Minister and his Deputy, Dr. John Kumah.

He hinted that during the meeting, the Union expressed concerns about some of the initiatives announced in the budget such as the YouStart programme and other matters relating to youth unemployment and the wellbeing of students generally.

According to him, based on the interactions with Mr. Ofori-Atta and his deputy, the Union wishes to convey its stance on the 2022 budget which was presented before Parliament on November 17.

President of the University Students Association (USAG), Mr. Christian Philip Armah said the stance of the Union on the 2022 budget, will be informed by a consensus from all Blocs of NUGS, who participated in the said meeting at the Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of NUGS, Julius Kwame Anthony has alleged that the scheduled press conference is a move by the NUGS President and his cohorts to throw their weight behind the controversial E-levy proposal, which was contained in the 2022 Budget.

“And if you look at the letter inviting the presser, the statement, you’ll realize that he [Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye] has copied National Executive Officers, he has copied NEO, he has copied NEC which means we are not in the know. And he’s now copying us that he’s going to organise a press conference on this and this subject. That’s not how the organogram of NUGS is. That’s not how he [Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye] is supposed to operate.

So it is evident of the fact that there’s malicious intent, the claims of bribery and all those things could be true. And I mean, people who attended the meeting, I’ll reserve the names because they didn’t permit me to mention their names; who attended the meeting, some of these Bloc heads attested to the fact that they were given heavy in quote ‘T&T’, and that was the arrangement they’re supposed to do. To come and educate, that’s the wording: ‘educate’ their constituents on the budget, why the E-levy is necessary and all that’, Mr. Anthony told MyJoyOnline. com.

Based on his suspicions of manipulation and foul play, Mr. Anthony expressed his readiness to use other appropriate forums to counter the compromise by the NUGS President, Mr. Emmanuel Yiadom Boakye.