We are stating facts on fees - Legon SRC

Accra, July 8, GNA - The Students' Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Thursday said their protest against increase in academic user fees was neither to twist facts nor was it being done with malice.

The students maintained that the amount students paid last year was about 1.2 million cedis for the humanities, "which is the lowest fee charged, whilst that of this year's exceeds 2.4 million cedis, thus exceeding it by 100 per cent" they stated earlier.

A statement signed by the Acting SRC President, Ms Josephine Adwoa Ashia said, " while it is true that the majority of students and their parents cannot afford to pay the existing fees, it will be wrong for students to twist facts to attract public sympathy".

It said, a press conference held on June 21, this year to inform the public about the 100 per cent fee increment was to draw the attention of civil society, cooperate bodies and the Government to the "unjustifiable hike in the amount payable to the university next year. " We did not intend and never twisted any facts and our actions are without malice", it said.

The statement said it was unfortunate that an Accra Daily labelled the SRC as "twisting facts to attract public sympathy." It said: "It is a bare fact that this level of fees will turn our society into a bourgeoisie one where it will be impossible for the wards of the about 70 per cent poor Ghanaians to attain university education".

The statement reiterated the SRC's stance that it "rejects any increment in fees until their inputs were factored into the final decision".