A group calling itself Concerned Students of the the University of Ghana on Friday, February 3rd, 2023 took to some principal streets of Accra in a demonstration dubbed “Ya Br3 Mo Demo 2.0” ( We are tired of you).
This according to them was to register their displeasure to the government over happenings in the University of Ghana.
The concerned students held placard with various inscriptions ; some were; “VC Must Go, Build more Hostels on Campus, Practice the Democracy you Preach, Reinstate the Residents of Commonwealth Hall,” among others.
The lead convener, Eugene Boakye Junior, when he was handing over their petition to the Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Education, Edward Fiawo called for a reduction of in Academic user fees and Residential fees to the 15% threshold as stipulated by the Parliament of Ghana, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.
” We demand a refund of the unlawful monies they have been charged as school fees and the reversal of the unreasonable and exorbitant residential accommodation on campus.”
Students demand that university management reverses their decisions on the academic fees increment and immediately comply with the Minister of Education’s directive on the 2021/2022 academic year fees increment.”
The petitioners also asked that the university management to find lasting solutions to the perennial accommodation issues being faced by the university.
“We demand that the management of the university comes up with a clear plan for solving accommodation problems. Lasting solutions have to be meted out to this long-existing problem immediately. Also, starting this year, students want to see hostels springing up on campus.”
On receiving the petition on behalf of the President, the Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Edward Fiawo, assured the students that , the government will respond appropriately.
“On behalf of the Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and on behalf of the President, I take this petition from the student’s leadership and I would present it to the Minister. I know the Minister is going to engage all stakeholders that are mentioned in this petition so that together we can have a solution to this problem.
Education can not foster on a campus that is very very rioted and
rioting. Education can only foster in peace and we need educational people and people with the knowledge to move this nation forward. Therefore, your petition would be taken care of, I will present it to the Minister and you will hear from him.”
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Story by : Frederick Kunzote- Ani | univers.ug.edu.gh
