The President of the University of Ghana Student Representative Council (UGSRC), Richmond Larbi Ofori has defended the recent adjustment in fees, stating that it is necessary to secure sustainable funding for a 15,000-capacity hostel project jointly initiated by the SRC and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG).
His comments come amid ongoing discussions following a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) instructing the University of Ghana to revert to the previous academic year’s fee structure.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive on Radio Univers, Richmond Larbi Ofori said that university management has allocated land for the construction of the proposed SRC–GRASAG hostel, a development he believes will significantly ease the persistent accommodation challenges faced by students.
“University management has allocated about five acres of land to commence the project. GRASAG and the UGSRC came together last September to ensure that we are able to put up this building to provide accommodation for about 15,000 students. The hostel will be regulated by the SRC and university management,” he said.
He further explained that the hostel will be independently managed by student leadership, with pricing determined by the SRC in the interest of students. According to him, the facility will operate under a model similar to traditional halls of residence, which remain affordable due to institutional ownership.
“When last did you hear students complain about the cost of traditional hostels? You don’t, because they are affordable and owned by the institution. In the same way, no external party can tell us how much to charge for the SRC hostel. Once it is built, the SRC will determine the fees, and it is the students who are funding this project,” he added.
Meanwhile, the immediate former vice president of UGSRC, Jeffery Adu Yeboah, popularly known as Jay Lit, has rejected claims that his administration initiated a fee increase before leaving office.
Taking to his WhatsApp status and channel, Jay Lit clarified that at no point did the administration approve or initiate any fee increase during its tenure.
“The 67th UGSRC Administration never initiated an increment in fees before we left office. Never under the General Assembly nor the Executive Committee was there an agreement to increase fees by even a pesewa,” he wrote.
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Story by Karen Seyram Glover| univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Deborah Owusu
