Ranking Member of the Education Committee in Parliament, Hon. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe has stated that no educational institution can increase fees by more than 15% by law.
This follows a petition made to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, by the majority caucus of the University of Ghana Parliament House, to intervene in a purported increment in academic and residential fees for the 2022-2023 academic year .
The petition is in relation to comments made by the PRO Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Gordon Awandare, on 27 May 2022, concerning a possible 50% increment in fees for the coming academic year.
Speaking to Univers News, Hon. Nortsu Kotoe revealed that, although an annual increment is allowed, an increase that exceeds 15% is against the “Fees and Charges Act”.
The passed fees and charges act which are all fees that were brought before the Finance Committee, and I remember very well that as part of the recommendations or the act it was that fees can be increased by 15% every year. By law, no institution is to increase fees by more than 15%. So, if an institution or organization increases, fees and charges above 15%, is a violation of the law and that is what the students’ unions have brought to our notice. And we agree with them by law, law no institution is to go beyond the 15%, he said.
He appealed to Universities across Ghana to dissolve any plans of raising student fees, as the decision could be dire for both wards and parents.
We want to appeal to universities, that looking at the high costs of living and the pressure that parents are through due to economic hardship, the fee increment for 2023 should be suspended, he added.
Story by: Alexander Kuuku Osei-Baidoo | univers.ug.edu.gh
