NUGS Oppose State Funding Of Political Parties

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the government to abandon the idea of the state funding of political parties and rather channel the resources into developing education. It has described funding of political parties by the state "as dangerous path to be towed by government”.

The Acting President of NUGS, Felix Kyei-Barfuor, told a press conference "NUGS subscribe to the view that funds and resources that will be channelled into funding political parties should be used judiciously to strengthen educational structures to provide quality education, reduce the rate of illiteracy and alleviate poverty".

"The argument that funding political parties by the state at the expense of education will enhance democracy and strengthen democratic structures fall short of the real ingredients since education is a prerequisite to the development of democracy".

Mr. Kyei-Baffuor noted that any attempt to enhance democracy ought to begin with developing education.

On the SSNIT students' loan, NUGS congratulated the Trust for the efficient manner it had managed the loans but wished that a loan trust to manage the students' loan scheme be established to allow benevolent individuals and organizations to contribute to it.

Mr. Kyei-Baffuor touched on the right to information bill saying the idea was in the right direction but urged government not to rush and pass it, adding that it needed more inputs to ensure that divergent views are expressed to enrich it.

NUGS urged the GETFund Secretariat to give recognition to students view concerning the fund and asked government to pay all arrears it owed it for disbursement of the fund.