No decision on tertiary students utility charges yet – Ablakwa

Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says government is yet to take a decision on whether tertiary students should pay for utilities on campus.

“We received a petition which prompted us to convene a stakeholders meeting,” Ablakwa disclosed.

Speaking at a congregation at the Koforidua Polytechnic, Ablakwa revealed that the Ministry awaits a report from a constituted group next week for all stakeholders to convene and take a decision.

The Ministry is contemplating on government exempting academic facilities while administration blocks should remain subsidized and residential utility charges is shared.

However, Ablakwa said this is not definite as the final decision rests with the report.

His comment is against the backdrop of concerns raised by tertiary students who say they will resist moves by government to make them pay for utilities.

Edwin Kofi Siaw reports that the Minister called for calm assuring students that all concerns by Student Unions, the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) and the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) will be considered to find a workable and sustainable solution.