Mahama Ayariga threatens to sue universities over illegal fees

Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee Mahama Ayariga has served notice he will sue authorities at the various universities if they don’t reverse hiked fees for the 2017/2018 academic year.

This follows the failure of the universities to seek parliamentary approval for the new fees as required by the country’s laws.

Management of the University released the schedule of fees for the next academic year but was met with outcry from the student body.

The students describe the new hiked figures as a manifestation of the constant increase of bills at the University.

Shortly after the release, the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Ghana, Professor Francis K. Nunoo said on the university’s radio station, Radio Universe on Friday, the recently released fees are merely a draft undergoing an academic approval.

According to him the students’ bill would be calibrated to amend any inconsistencies.

But the students are not convinced. Some of them recently petitioned Parliament to intervene.

Mahama Ayariga told Joy news he is taking up the case seriously.

“The option now is a legal challenge to the fees. If that happens then it is for the court to decide what should be done,” he threatened.

He is proposing that Parliament must hold on to the new fees until it receives Parliamentary approval.

In the meantime it can go ahead and collect the old fees from the students, he suggested.