Yentua Demo Hits Accra

University of Ghana student at Parliament House yesterday.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu and Adam Coe

Thursday July 28, 2011.
Scores of students from the University of Ghana descended on the streets of Accra yesterday to demonstrate against the increment of academic and accommodation fees for the 2011/2012 academic year.

They held placards some of which read: “We no go pay”, “School Fees Na Double Double”, “Aryeetey yentua”, “If inflation is single then school fees should be single”, “Father for all do something”, “Aryeetey must go”, among others.

The students were however disappointed when they were prevented by the police from entering the premises of the Ministry of Education to present their petition to the Minister even though they were allowed in Parliament house yard earlier on to present similar petition.

But when Daily Guide reached Professor Ernest Aryeetey via telephone for his comment on the demonstration he said “I can only say it is unfortunate. I am out of Accra and not prepared to say anything further at the moment.”

Matters came to a head when after marching from Parliament House the students were directed by the riot control police into the forecourt of Ohene Djan Sports Stadium where they were told that officials of the Education ministry would soon meet them for them to present their petition.

After about seven minutes the students became incensed claiming they were being shortchanged by the police and the Ministry’s officials.

They started moving back to the entrance of the stadium where a bust has been erected in memory of 126 football fans who perished on May 9, 2001.

The police quickly linked arms to form a human barrier about 30 meters from the entrance of the Ministry of Education and the students had no option but to stand in disappointment.

All of a sudden, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education Mahama Ayariga appeared from the Ministry to receive the petition from student leadership and called for dialogue between the students and university authorities for peace and harmony to prevail.

He promised to look into the student’s grievance and ensure the issue is settled amicably saying “we are appealing to the students to allow more space for dialogue.

I have also appealed to the authorities to engage the students to review the situation so that both parties will reach acceptable conclusion”.

Later, Mr. Ayariga told Daily Guide that the students are complaining that the issue is not simply about increment of fees but rather the way and manner in which the university authorities have handled the matter.

“All public universities have increased fees one way or the other but they are not demonstrating so why Legon?”

He said the government in collaboration with the national Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) is working hard to organize a national forum in August 2011 on the financing of tertiary education where some of these issues would be discussed exhaustively.

While the leadership of the student body including the Student’s Representative Council (SRC) and the National Union of Ghana Students NUGS claim they are doing their best to get the university authorities to rescind their decision to increase fees, some of the students accused their leaders of being ‘bribed’ to keep mute.

Hamza Suhini, NUGS Presidents warned that they will not allow any student to pay fees if the decision is not reversed saying “we are prepared to sacrifice the coming semester to assert our rights.”

He said the turnout was not massive because the students are currently on vacation but assured that they are prepared to lead relentless demonstration when school re-opens.

“We are here because we have exhausted all other available avenues. We expect them to respond positively; otherwise you can expect far more serious demonstrations.”

The march started at about 10:25 am from the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through Adabraka, TUC, National Theatre, Liberation Circle and Parliament House before ending at the entrance of the Ministry of Education.

At Parliament Gershon Gbadiame, MP for Nkwanta South, and Majority Chief Whip received the petition on behalf of the leadership of the house and promised to inform the house about the situation.

“When I was a student at the University of Cape Coast in the 1970s, we were involved in aluta. Kofi Totobi Kwakye was our student leader. We do not begrudge what you for your actions. What you are doing is healthy because they bring out issues for deliberation.”