PUSAG adds voice to issue between PUC and students

The Private Universities Students’ Association of Ghana (PUSAG ) has added its voice to the current upheaval between some students and authorities of the Pentecost University Collage (PUC) on its Bachelor of Arts Communication programme accreditation.

A statement signed by Mr Raphael Apetorgbor, PUSAG Media Relations Officer and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday recounted that the issue mainly involves the 11 students, who took a Bachelor of Arts in Communication programme at PUC and were due for graduation at the end of the 2013/2014 academic year, but delayed for graduation due to challenges from the affiliate University.

It said as the mouthpiece of all private universities in the country, PUSAG would like to confer certain pertinent issues that need attention by the various institutions and the public as a whole.

It said: “As we all strive to move forward the development of private tertiary education in Ghana, it is worth to note that the National Accreditation Board (NAB) has the statutory mandate of ensuring that this situation never occurred.

“In view of the above, PUSAG is urging NAB to be upright in their duties and responsibilities as the gate keeper of quality tertiary education in Ghana.”

It noted that the association wants to call on the Council for Independent Private Universities to support the students in their efforts to seek for reparation and justice at the court of law.

“And we also want to admonish them to adhere to standards set for student admissions into the various programmes at the universities by NAB”.

It said the NAB should be awakened to it duties of ensuring that such canker never recurs; adding that, PUSAG also wants to make it clear that it supports every judiciary movement by the aggrieved students.

“Finally, we would want to take this opportunity to speak to the school authorities of PUC and other member institutions to desist from marketing programmes without the approval and support from the affiliate universities and NAB,” the statement said.

The PUSAG is the mother body of all accredited Private Universities and Institutions in Ghana at the student leadership level.

The association aims to protect and safeguard the rights and interest of students and to instil in students a high sense of discipline.

Established nine years ago, the association is currently commanding over 50,000 students’ population.