The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) wishes to officially communicate to its constituents and the general public of the Union’s decision to put on hold its intended “Yentua Demo” slatted for Monday, May 11, 2015 in Accra.
It would be recalled that NUGS had earlier served strong notice of its unwavering resolve to staging a mammoth demonstration against subtle moves by government to make students pay for utility bills. In fact, the Union had proceeded to make arrangements with the Greater Accra Regional Police Command and settled for Monday May 11 as the date for the planned demo.
However, it has now unanimously resolved to temporarily suspend the demonstration as earlier scheduled. This decision was reached at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which was held on Wednesday, 6th May, 2015 to consider some recent developments in respect of the matter.
In arriving at this decision, NEC took due cognizance of the timely response of the Ministry of Education to NUGS’ letter dated 30th April, 2015 requesting for government’s official stance on the payment of utility bills by students in public tertiary institutions in view of the inconsistency in government’s position as was being communicated.
We are making available to the media, students and the general public copies of government’s assurance letter to continue paying the utility subsidies. The letter which was addressed to NUGS has been copied to all stakeholders including the National Council for Tertiary Education, all Vice Chancellors in the nation’s public universities as well as Rectors and Principals of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively.
The Union wishes to appreciate the support and cooperation it has received from the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, the “Yentua Demo Planning Committee”, the media, students and student leaders for their respective roles in this struggle which has yielded the necessary dividend at least in the interim.
It is however very instructive to make the point that the battle has not ended and that NUGS would continue to monitor government’s subsequent posturing on the matter to ensure that all the pledges and commitments made are followed to the latter.
In conclusion, NUGS wishes to assure all students that the Union shall not relent in its efforts to championing their supreme interest in respect of this and other matters of concern to the student front. EDUCATION must remain a RIGHT and NOT a PRIVILEGE as enshrined in both the letter and spirit of our national constitution.
Aluta Continua!! Victoria Ascerta!!! Thank you.
Signed.
(NEC MEMBERS)
