Gov't responds to protests against proposed hikes in utility fees

Europa

June 29, 2016 10:43 AM

The University of Ghana Student’s Representative Council (SRC), is up in arms against government following a proposed utility fees of up to over GHC2,000 starting from the 2016/17 academic year.

Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor has asked students of the University of Ghana to exercise restraint as government begins steps to tackle issues surrounding the implementation of the university’s newly proposed utility charges for students.

This is part of efforts by the university to clear debts owed utility companies.

Proposed fees for water and electricity for non-resident students have been pegged at GHC922 and GHC2,326 for residents.

However, addressing a news conference on Tuesday, the SRC President of the University of Ghana, Esinam Afi Seade, said that the students will not pay the amounts being considered.

“The SRC is standing firm and saying students are not in a position to do this so as much as possible, we will stand by students and kick against the payment of the utility bills,” she said.

The student body has therefore asked government to issue “a directive to all stakeholders, namely the Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana Water Company Limited and the University of Ghana management, asking that students are spared the proposed charges.”

In a response, the Deputy Minister of Power said cabinet has considered the issues surrounding debts owed the ECG by the university and “took a decision that this year the Ministry of Finance should make provisions for that.”

He told Accra-based Citi FM that “...the issue has to do with lecture theatres, traditional halls, laboratories and libraries. Those are the key issues. We expect that the Ministry of finance should take care of that.”

Mr Jinapor added that a Committee comprising the Ministries of Finance, Power and Education, as well as representatives from students and lecturers, are working assiduously to find ways of possibly suspending the proposed hikes in utility fees.

Europa

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