University students against reprographic fees

Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - The University Students Association (USAG) on Wednesday repeated its opposition to moves by Copy Ghana, a copyrights organisation, to meet with the various students' representative councils of the universities on the payment of reprographic fees by students. In a statement issued by Mr Samuel Kwadwo Frimpong, President of USAG, the students said there was no legitimate reason why students should pay for pages of books they photocopied for their studies. "This stance of USAG stems from the fact that previous discussions with national student leaders have not been conclusive enough due to the fact that concerns raised by student leaders have not been met and the alternatives provided have never been considered.

"USAG believes that the payment of reprographic fees by students has no legal backing," it said.

The statement said according to the reproductive rights document of Copy Ghana, it admitted that personal and private use was a special case referred to as "permitted use".

"The National Executives of the University Students Association of Ghana sees this latest move by Copy Ghana as an affront to students' freedom and a means of extorting money from students..."