Coordinating Secretary of the University Students Association of Ghana, Dayan Akpene Ama Green has revealed that some tertiary schools across the country have taken advantage of the fee increment and are charging beyond the 15% range approved by the Parliament.
Parliament later last year approved the Fees and Charges Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 which gives legal backing to the request for a 15 per cent increment in the cost of government charges, affecting the school fees increment.
However, Dayan Akpene in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show alleged that some tertiary institutions have updated their fee charges above the authorized cap despite agitations by some students who believe that the margin of increase is unbearable.
“So far, since the release and issuance of the fee increment, we have gone to see GTEC about some schools taking more than the 15% cap. We have seen other schools also drop the charges to meet the charges approved by Parliament. Other schools are still reluctant and as at yesterday some have the school fees above the 15% cap,” she bemoaned.
She earlier admitted that despite the association not being in favour of the increment, they came to terms with reality after a couple of meetings with the government. Hence had to compromise on the decision especially when school reopening was near.
“We understood the situation, we had meetings and told them what we wanted. We also told them we wanted it reduced but they explained to us and then since the school was about to be reopened we had to fight for the 15% cap so that going forward we can know what to do about it. We weren’t for the 15% initially but we had to compromise and understand the current development.
She further has assured students the association will fight to ensure they do not pay fees beyond the 15 percent increment approved by parliament.
“So far some schools have dropped to meet the cap and that is progress for the initiative. Every day we are getting some releases which is in the right direction and we’ll continue to embark on this till everyone conforms to the authorized charges,” she added.
By: Jude Tackie
