The management of the University of Ghana, Legon (UG) has justified the recent fees announced for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Student leaders had raised concerns about the fees, describing them as too high and in contravention of the 15 percent recently approved by Parliament.
But in a statement on Monday, January 2, management set the record straight “to correct false information being circulated about adjustments of Academic Facility User Fees by the University for the 2022/2023 academic year”.
“The adjustments of fees by the University is based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC),” the statement signed by Registrar Emelia Agyei-Mensah said.
Mrs Agyei-Mensah explained that the University had staggered a 5 percent increment approved by Parliament for the 2019/2020 academic year because the authorisation came mid-semester.
The following academic year when the percentage of increment should have been implemented saw student leaders pleading for a suspension as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and its economic toll on parents and guardians.
“In effect, therefore, the University of Ghana charged students subsidised fees for the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved fees.”
But after a meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 and internal consultations, the University Council approved the implementation of increment, especially as cost of operations was going high.
The increment was done with the recent 15 percent from Parliament on the original 5 percent for the 2019/2020 academic year.
“Management therefore assures students, parents and all stakeholders that fees charged for the 2022/2023 academic year are legal and duly based on approved fee levels as authorised by Parliament.
“The University recognises the current difficult economic situation in the country, and as such has provided for flexible fee payment terms for students.”