The University of Ghana Student Representative Council (SRC) is set to petition the university management on Monday, January 20, 2025, over the sudden and significant surge in residential fees for traditional halls.
This decision was announced during an Emergency Executive Committee (Excom) meeting held at the President’s office last night. Assembled at the meeting were the SRC President Maradona Adjei Yeboah, Vice President Jeffery Adu Yeboah (popularly known as Jay Lit), Excom officials, and Junior Common Room (JCR) presidents of the various halls.
The petition comes on the heels of a press statement released by the university management through the Public Affairs Directorate, which notified students of a 20% increment in Residential Fees Uniformity Fund (RFUF) for traditional halls citing an increase in electricity tariffs and the need for proper maintenance of facilities as reasons for the hike.
According to the SRC President, Maradona Adjei Yeboah, he opposes the proposed fee increment due to its excessive nature and potential financial burdens on students. He described it as “exorbitant”.
“The increment is very exorbitant and students cannot afford that. Recently, students were charged to pay GHC 100 for online engagement, and just last year, there was an increase in the residential fees again from GHC 2,000 to GHC 2,500. These instances are very alarming for us as students if every year we bear additional costs.”
Jeffery Adu Yeboah also further reiterated the President’s concern of the incessant price hikes.
“If we are to attribute this increment to the hikes of prices of commodities, is the management indirectly telling us this is going to become a ritual? Are we saying that every academic year, hall fees will be increased because there is an economic crisis? Because this thing doesn’t end. Tariffs do not go down; it always goes up.”
In response, the SRC has decided to petition the management for a reconsideration of the fee increment and a return to the initial prices. The council has begun engaging with stakeholders to explore possible reductions in the amount and address the matter. The petition is scheduled to be presented to the management on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Story by: Fauzia Salim |univers.ug.edu.gh
