The University Students Association of Ghana has observed that the absence of support and opportunities for students in universities means that the country might lose its talents to other countries in the coming years.
In a statement, the USAG asserted that the lack of opportunities for students in universities after school has created the viewpoint that university education is for the purpose of obtaining certificates and later traveling outside the country to the detriment of the country.
Reacting to the 2023 budget statement, the association noted that the statement presents no real advantages to Ghanaian students but only seeks to worsen their plight.
“On a very sad note, the 2023 budget does not present any hope for our plight as university students in Ghana.”
They criticized the proposed freeze in public sector employment, claiming that it would exacerbate the already high unemployment rate of 90% per year.
Concerning the 1-year mandatory National Service, the association criticized the “harsh” working conditions of National Service Personnel as well as the insufficient monthly stipend. They added that the newly proposed amendment to the e-levy act, which effectively eliminates the threshold for small amounts, will adversely affect NSS personnel.
USAG also complained about the huge increase in the prices of goods and services, including tuition and accommodation fees for both private and public universities.
“Percentage increments of as high as 60% have been proposed on our various campuses. This is suffocating for the average Ghanaian youth seeking higher education.”
The association continued: “Issues of lethal increases in accommodation prices, which were already at an all-time high before this economic turmoil, with some hostels charging as much as GHC 12,000 for single occupancy for 8 months. The situation only gets worse as we now face an increment in the university-owned hostel fees of up to 80%.”
They further mentioned the lack of accessible scholarships as hindering the education of the country, as stipulated by SDG 4.
USAG called on the government to resolve any outstanding issues with organized labor to forestall any future industrial actions.
It also requested an upward adjustment of monthly stipends for NSS personnel to improve their economic situations while calling on the Education Ministry to order the halt of any proposed increments of fees by universities.
