The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) on behalf of students wishes to use this opportunity to bring to the knowledge of the general public and draw the attention of government to some worrying developments in tertiary institutions in Ghana.
First of all, we would like to congratulate the President of the Republic of Ghana for his commitment towards the development of basic and tertiary education in the country and his decision to establish more senior high schools and universities across the country. The decision to transit all polytechnics into technical universities and make SHS free this year is also overwhelmingly welcomed and we must say most Ghanaians are very grateful.
Having said that, we would like to ask a simple question; what do we stand to gain if after free basic education, tertiary education becomes a burden? Early last year, a directive from the Ministry of Finance indicated government’s decision to withdraw all forms of subsidies and subventions to public tertiary institutions in the country. A timely intervention by H.E. the President ensured that this decision did not materialize.
It was a happy moment for tertiary students in the country. Nonetheless, we fear to say that recent developments point in the directions of the earlier decision by the Ministry of Finance vis-a-vis the payment of utility bills by public universities across the country of which UMaT is no exception.
September last year, we are all aware that Kumasi Polytechnic was threatened to pay their utility bills or suffer the consequence of being disconnected from the national grid. Two months later, their electricity supply was cut off. Koforidua Polytechnic faced similar warnings and subsequent sanctions not long ago. It is now the turn of our universities.
On the 17th December 2014, The UMaT SRC President was called by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UMaT to a meeting with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). ECG was clear that they had had a directive from the Ministry of Finance to instruct all public universities to make payments towards electricity bills and to settle all debts owed ECG or suffer a power cut.
The implication of this action is that, university authorities would be forced to include utility bills in the fees of students latest by next semester. We are reliably informed that ECG is moving from campus to campus issuing similar threats and making similar demands.
Ladies and gentlemen, this move will succeed in exacerbating the already precarious woes of tertiary students who are undeniably overburdened with the exorbitant cost of tertiary education in the country. Government in its wisdom and cognisant of the fact that the role of tertiary education in the socio economic development of this country cannot be overemphasized, instituted the payment of subventions in order to make tertiary education accessible and affordable to all.
Removal of these subventions contradicts the “People matter you matter” mantra that is being preached by the current government. The plight of the poor is gradually being pushed under the carpet and creating a state where only the rich can survive. We are therefore calling on government in a petition submitted to the office of the President of the Republic of Ghana dated January 10, 2015 to respond and resolve amicably these issues without delay in order to allow tertiary education to proceed in a friendlier and conducive atmosphere devoid of any form of threat from any group or company.
Thank you and may God bless us all.
Long live UMaT SRC!
Long live Students’ Activism!
Long live Mother Ghana!
ALUTA CONTINUA!!! VICTORIA ASCERTA!!!
SIGNED.
Oteng Amponsah Enock
0246122392/0505450458
SRC PRESIDENT
Sekyiama Okyere Ben
0204194184
SRC PRO
