UCC SRC denies approving new residential policy

The Students Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has denied giving approval for the implementation of the new residential policy recently announced by the University authorities.

The SRC stated: "we were not informed about the final decision on the policy and were therefore, taken aback and very surprised when we heard that the UCC student leadership had given its approval for implementation of the new residential policy".

The denial was made at a news conference in Kumasi on Wednesday addressed by the SRC President, Mr. Micheal Ampong, to clarify certain issues with regard to the new policy also known as "In-Out-Out-In," planned for next academic year.

It was also to express the displeasure of the students about the increase in the residential facility user fees.

Mr Ampong said even though the SRC set up a committee to study the policy, which suggested alternative solutions to the accommodation problems to the university authorities, "the SRC had not received any positive response from the authorities till date".

Mr Ampong said the new policy had not taken into consideration the proposals of the SRC, thereby making it unsatisfactory, since it paved the way for landlords who rented rooms to non-residential students to charge exorbitant rents.

He said the next line of action of the SRC would depend on the reaction and sentiments of the students.

Mr Ampong observed that even though government directives indicated that old levels of the residential facility user fees should be maintained, UCC initially went ahead and increased the fees.

"Even though they later effected the desired changes of the fees internally on campus, they have failed to make the correction with respect to publications in the newspapers," the SRC President noted.

Mr Ampong appealed to the students to remain calm and resolute as negotiations went on with the authorities.