Policy to waive academic user fees was formulated without our input - NUGS

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has criticised the National Democratic Congress for not consulting the union before launching its Youth Manifesto.

The president of NUGS, Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, told asaaseradio.com in an interview on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, that the NDC did not consult the student union on the policy.

“One of the worrying things affecting us is that these things being talked of, especially when it comes to the subsidy on our university fees, and all that, were done in isolation of the student union.

“We were not consulted, especially on this particular one that has to do with the university," he noted.

He stated that NUGS has numerous questions about the feasibility and implementation of the proposed fee waiver, which they would have liked to discuss if consultations had taken place.

“We have a lot of questions we would’ve wanted to genuinely ask if the necessary consultations were done on this particular policy, its feasibility, and the implementation mechanism that, at some point, would be used in making sure this happens,” he added.

The NUGS president said the NDC’s decision to exclude the union from discussions points to a disregard for the union’s potential contributions.

“You want to tell us we have nothing good to offer and something that is going to be implemented or it’s going to have an effect on we the students? How or what’s the big deal? I mean, bringing the student on board to also tender in their questions [and] tender in their recommendations,” he added, the report said.

On Monday, August 12, 2024, the NDC unveiled its 2024 Youth Manifesto, which includes a pledge by the Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, to waive academic fees for first-year tertiary students if elected.

JKB/AE

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