Awineyesema Abiire, a lecturer at the Bolgatanga Technical University, is urging the National Democratic Congress and its Flagbearer to tread cautiously in his desire to implement a free academic user fee for all level 100 tertiary students should the party win the December 7 general elections.
He observes that implementing such a policy immediately after taking over the reigns of governance could spell doom for the country.
“But the document says they want to start it in 2025 and that is where the problem comes. When you assume responsibility of a country, and you mistake that to be assuming power over the country, then these are the things that happen.”
He added, “Mahama hasn’t come yet. He says he’s going to implement it in 2025. And that doesn’t look feasible”.
Mr. Abiire stated that constitutionally, the government of Ghana is expected to progressively implement a program that will create access to tertiary education.
While describing the intervention as welcome news, he cautioned against any attempt to implement it in the first year.
“The 1992 constitution even foresaw that a time is coming in which secondary, tertiary education, we should have free tertiary education. But the key word there is progressive. So, to start with no academic fee is excellent,” he stated.
The NDC led by its presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama yesterday held a series of public events in commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day.
The party first held the youth manifesto launch at which, it announced a number of policy ideas it intends to implement improve the welfare of young people if it is given the nod.
Among these policy proposals is the intention to implement a “No-Fees-Stress Programme to alleviate the financial burden on parents and students in financing tertiary education”.
Under this programme, the party intends to absorb academic user fees for level 100 students in public universities.
