The debate on whether or not students are to pay for utilities in public tertiary institutions still lingers on. Even though the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto has stated that Government is yet to take a decision on the matter, there is still agitation among students and university managements over the issue.
Last month, the Student Representative Council of the University of Cape Coast threatened to embark on a demonstration if school authorities tried imposing fees as utilities on them in addition to their academic fees.
Students of the University of Ghana will suffer the same fate if management of the University don’t receive any clear-cut communication or directive from government on the payment of utility bills. The issue resurfaced during the Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting to deliberate on the cost of fees for the 2016/2017 academic year subject to the approval of the University Council.
The Treasurer of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana, Mr. Prince Ampofo Amoah was on Radio Univers’ Campus Exclusive on Tuesday to brief students on the negotiations with management so far. He provided the following figures as projected amounts to be paid by students as utility bills should government relent on its promise to foot the utility bills of tertiary students.
PROJECTED UTILITIES TO BE PAID
Electricity
Administrative and Academic (AA) – GHc763.26
Residential (R) – GHc822.74
Non-Resident Students ( AA) = GHc763.26
Resident Students (AA + R) = GHc1,586
Water
Administrative and Academic (AA) = GHc157.62
Residential (R) = GHc582.58
Non-Resident Students ( AA) = GHc157.62
Resident Students (AA + R) = GHc740.20
TOTAL (Electricity + Water)
Non-Resident Students = GHc920.88
Resident Students = GHc2,326.2
Credit: Maxwell Amoofia/ Radio Univers 105.7Mhz