Tamale students demonstrate against fees

Members of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) held a street demonstration in Tamale to draw attention to their demand for a review of increases in university fees.

The demonstration, which attracted students from the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Polytechnic and second cycle schools, was generally peaceful. The students, numbering about 200 and wearing red arm and head bands, carried placards, some of which read: "Oh God, kindly kill J.J. for us", "Spio Garbrah has no direction" "Cost-shifting: An attempt to paralyze the North - A Miscalculated Policy".

They marched to the offices of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), the Regional House of Chiefs and the Central Administration of the UDS to present a resolution, amid chanting and singing of war songs. The resolution, read by Mr. Bernard Teteh-Duoanya, the local NUGS President, stated that students are not prepared to pay any additional school fees other than what they paid last academic year.

The students also suggested the establishment of an educational fund, to which, they said they were prepared to contribute 10,000 cedis each. "Until the total withdrawal of the increase on the charges and the establishment of the educational fund... we are not going back to school and will ensure that the schools are not re-opened for the 1999-2000 academic year", the resolution said.

Receiving the resolution at the RCC, Mr. Joshua Alabi, Northern Regional Minister, said it would form the basis for further discussions between the government and the university authorities and students. He asked the students to exercise restraint and collaborate with the government to find lasting solutions to the problem, adding that "payment or no payment, Ghana belongs to all of us, and we must find a way out."

At the UDS, the student met with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Raymond Bagulo Bening and the Registrar, Mr. Paul Effah. Professor Bening expressed the hope that the NUGS would take advantage of the forthcoming national forum on the funding of tertiary education to contribute to the search for solutions.