Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Interparty and Civil Society Relations of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended the party’s promise to eliminate academic fees for first-year university students.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points, Otokunor emphasized that the initiative addresses a significant barrier that prevents many students from accessing higher education due to financial constraints.
Otokunor highlighted the challenge faced by students who struggle to pay their admission fees, which he described as a significant issue impacting over 45,000 students.
He asserted that the policy aims to remedy this problem and make university education more accessible.
Professor Ransford Gyampo from the University of Ghana also weighed in on the policy.
Initially concerned that waiving fees might undermine university funding, assurances from former President John Dramani Mahama eased Gyampo’s doubts. Mahama has promised that increased and timely government subventions would offset any potential financial shortfalls for universities.
Gyampo noted that while the policy could initially strain university finances, the proposed increase in subventions would help manage operational costs such as salaries, utilities, and other expenses. He acknowledged that the policy could support needy but deserving students if the funding commitments are honoured.
Mahama has projected that the initiative, which aims to absorb the academic user fees for first-year students, will cost between 270 to 290 million Ghana Cedis. He has pledged to find the necessary funds by addressing government inefficiencies and reallocating budgets, particularly from areas with perceived waste.
The former President argued that significant savings could be made by cutting expenditures from the Office of the President, which he claimed had historically high budgets. He also assured that the initiative would not negatively impact university subventions, which have declined recently.
Overall, both Otokunor and Gyampo see potential benefits in the policy if the promises of increased subventions and efficient financial management are fulfilled.
