NUGS Calls For IGP’s Head

THE NATIONAL Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called for the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, citing the Ghana Police Service's alleged involvement in illicit cocaine trade as the rationale.

The President of NUGS, Kweku Tuoho Bombason, made the call at a press conference in Accra yesterday.

Mr. Bombason averred that NUGS was very committed to the development of the country, hence the call on the IGP to resign since the country had become a drug transit point for foreigners.

“The image of Ghana as a transit point for cocaine has had a lot of negative implications on foreign direct investment, national security and Ghana's corporate image.

“The Union however believes that in the wake of some unprofessional policemen who are allegedly involved in corruption and maladministration, the Police Service must also be checked.”

Touching on other issues of importance to NUGS, the President said despite the assurance by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof Dominic Fobih, that the feeding grants have been released by government for Senior High Schools in the three northern regions, schools in those areas were still closed and waiting for the grants.

He observed that the situation in the North had been deteriorating every academic year, reiterating that the aim of the School Feeding Programme was to bridge the gap between the northern and southern sectors of the country in terms of education.

Mr. Bombason maintained that if the government failed to reopen all the Senior High Schools in the three northern regions within one week, NUGS would take action.

NUGS further noted with great concern the recent haphazard use of the GETFund proceeds, and called for serious reforms to be made to the fund.

Over two successive academic years, beneficiaries of the Students Loan Scheme had not received any increment in their loans, notwithstanding the persistent rise in the cost of living, he complained, contending that indications from appropriate quarters had proven that the GETFund does not have the financial capacity to support the scheme.

The President restated the need to implement a loan increase by at least 50 percent, effective by the 2008/2009 academic year, as was decided at the Central Committee meeting of NUGS in December last year.

Touching on the eruption of conflicts in Bawku, Anloga and Bukprugu-Yunyuo, Kwaku Bombason said the conflict in the northern region was not needed at this time since the region was facing peculiar developmental challenges.

He noted that NUGS was invited by President John Agyekum Kufuor to participate in a Relief Impact Assessment exercise in the wake of the Northern Flood Disaster, and to see to this, NUGS had earmarked 53 students to carry out the exercise, with funds made available for that purpose.

He expressed displeasure about the indefinite cancellation of the Impact Assessment, demanding that an explanation be given for the whereabouts of the delegated funds for the exercise.

By Edna Akintonde & Alesha Porisky