Okudzeto Ablakwa criticises KNUST for deferring about 6000 students over non-payment of fees

The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticised the Management of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for deferring about 6,000 students over their inability to pay fees.

In a Facebook post, the legislator stated that the authority's decision at KNUST is “harsh and inconsiderate considering the current economic crisis” in the country.

This comes after scores of KNUST students were forced by the University to defer their courses over their inability to pay fees.

Reacting to the development, Mr Ablakwa appealed to the Education Ministry “to urgently intervene and save the future of these students.”

“It should not be difficult for the government to instruct student support schemes such as the Scholarship Secretariat, Students' Loan Trust Fund, GNPC Scholarship Foundation, Cocobod Scholarship and GETFund to extend immediate relief to our 6,000 young Ghanaians,” he said.

The MP further called on Ghanaians to “stand in solidarity with these students and help all of them remain in school to achieve their dreams.”

Mr Ablakwa used the medium to call on affected students in the North Tongu Constituency to contact his office for assistance.

According to the MP, with the recent happening, “perhaps it is time for Parliament to revisit our earlier motion calling for a special subsidy on fees, particularly for needy tertiary students.”

Meanwhile, the Management of KNUST has explained their decision for deferring the students. In an interview on Joy FM‘s Midday News, the University's Public Relations Officer, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, accused some of the affected students of playing games with them.

According to him, some students have invested their fees in ventures such as betting, buying vehicles for online ride-hailing services and bakery.

“The problem we have now is that a number of students are playing games with the University. For example, they use their school fees to buy cars for Uber, others are using it to set up bakeries, and others are also using it for betting, and we have evidence.”

“Some parents have even sent us audio where students have received the fees but have refused to pay or simply trading with the money”