Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has demanded the immediate halt to the charging of unapproved fees by public universities without parliamentary approval.
He has threatened legal action over the matter.
The MP, who is the Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee, has also written to the Minister of State In Charge of Tertiary Education, Prof. Kwesi Yankah on the matter.
According to Mr Ayariga, the country’s laws require that various public universities, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana must submit their proposed fees to Parliament for approval but that hasn’t happened since 1992.
In a two-page letter, he said the imposition of fees on students without prior approval by Parliament is contrary to the law. He noted that with the exception of Wa Polytechnic, all other tertiary institutions are in breach of the law.
Speaking in an interview with Joy News, the MP demanded that the sector minister should take steps to rectify this or face a court action.
“They must come to Parliament for approval that gives parliamentarians the opportunity to scrutinize the amount being charged and also get to appreciate the justification for charging that amount because the public is already financing the institution by paying the salaries of lectures and by providing infrastructure,” he noted.
Mr Ayariga also asserted that per Article 25 (1) of the Constitution, the State must work towards a system that makes higher education free.
He demanded that the Minister presents a clear framework similar to what has been with the case of free SHS.
“The constitution also insists that we should arrange to provide progressively free tertiary education and there has not been any clear indication by all governments of a programme to provide for a progressively free tertiary education system,” the MP stated.
Mr. Ayariga also claimed that the practice of fee-paying and non-fee paying in the admission system is unconstitutional as it is discriminatory and reprehensible. According to him, this must end.
He laments that some of these demands eventually become a burden on parliamentarians with such high fees.
He is calling for a bipartisan discussion of these issues with critical stakeholders to resolve this, or they will head to the courts to enforce the demands as economic and social rights.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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Since i have known this man,...first time he has contributed meaningful to economic issues.
For once I agree with you Hon Ayariga. Some of us can no longer continue with our PhD because of the inreasing school fees. At University of Ghana, PhD education has now become fee paying. The master's fees at the various universities have increased more than 100%.countries have moved to free tertiary education but ours are moving to high tertiary education. This I think must stop.Tertiary education should also be progressively free.
Since when did Mr ayariga got to know about these. Is it because they are now in opposition? Mr ayariga please relax come and enforce these constitutional right when back to power in 2032.
I support u 100%. The public universities have taken Ghanaian for granted for far too long.lectures are now added to the list of well to do people in our society because of this 'stealing'.Ayariga thank u, we will take this up!
Bravo...it seems our leaders start thinking right when they are out of power.
The first time this cockroach and a twerp is making half***barred word***.
Your govt was in power not long ago and you saw nothing bad with our fees. Now you out of power, the fees is too much.we don't even take you serious anymore since next time you mighty again write an apology on this statement. Godbless GHANA
Dis matter must dealt with all seriousness and treated with urgency. It is outrageous the fees charged at De various tertiary institutions and also the sales of the forms also must be looked it. Kudos dis tym around to u.
it is true they are charging highs fees but you must be ashamed of yourself if this whole years in office you have now noted it,dont pretend you working wai we will struggle to pay
''...must submit their proposed fees to Parliament for approval but that hasn’t happened since 1992''. Since when did Ayariga realise this has not been done since 1992? He was a Minister in the corrupt John Mahama govt. They were busy stealing state money. NDC has ruled for more than 16 years since 1992 and the universities have flouted this constitutional requirement. Leave NPPMinisters to do their good job for country.