According to the Association, the Secretariat’s attempt to change the mode of payment after application for the grants have been made, will only further delay processes for the payment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yWehCmQT42P658O33TXaRaYzetrK3pBh”]“We are reliably informed by the Secretariat that all beneficiary institutions should collate bank account details of recommended applicants to the Secretariat for direct payment of the Thesis and Bursary Grants to be effected. Though the new mode of payment is ideal, we strongly believe it will only further delay the monies already in arrears. This is not the right time for this to and fro movement of the 2016/2017 bursary and thesis grant,” the GRASAG leadership said.

In a statement signed by the Jacob Apibilla Ayembilla, the National President of GRASAG, the Association said it had no prior knowledge about the plan to change the mode of payment of their grants despite holding various meetings with the scholarship secretariat on other subjects.

“GRASAG, as a major stakeholder, was not consulted before the sudden change in the mode of payment; which we believe is not congenial to the graduate student, at this material moment. The National Executive Committee (NEC) on several occasions met with the Registrar and the entire management team of the Scholarships Secretariat, and this mode of payment never came up in our discussions, we therefore don’t agree,” it said.

GRASAG said while it was ready to cooperate with the Scholarships Secretariat to urgently address the matter, it expects that the Secretariat completes payment of all applicants by Monday, January 15.

“We are by this release giving the government and the Secretariat up to Monday, 15th of January, 2018, to pay all recommended applicants. Graduate students have not been treated fairly, and we need to be treated with utmost respect.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to them, the current amount between GH¢ 450 and Gh¢900 per graduate, is woefully inadequate for quality research.

The Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) in a release on the matter, lamented the delay in the release of their 2016/2017 academic year.

“The annual Bursary and Thesis Grant ranging from GH¢ 450 – GH¢900 per student; depending on one’s programme of study, is woefully inadequate for quality research work, and we plead with government to come to the aid of the graduate students by seeing to at least 50% increment in our Bursary and Thesis Grant, across board.”

The Graduate Students also urged the government to adopt technology in the application process for Bursaries and Thesis Grants to ease the stress on students.

“We also would want government to take a second look at the application process for the Bursary and Thesis Grant. In this age of technological advancement, we wish to be migrated, from the cumbersome manual process, to an electronic platform, to ease the stress on graduate students”

“The Bursary and Thesis Grant for the 2016/2017 academic year is also yet to be released, and we plead with the government to see to the quick release of the funds to aid in our research work,” the statement said.

The Graduate Students also expressed fear that their monies for the next academic year may delay due to the fact that “we are yet to receive application forms to commence the application process. We ask that the forms be released on time to commence the process of application.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The 1st President, Juliet Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, reiterated the successes and challenges of the Ghanaian student in the United States.

In her speech, she highlighted the five focus areas the association would be running with. Academic and Professional Development, Research and Advocacy, Education and Outreach -focus on prospective students, Finance Strategy and Student Welfare.

The incoming President said, “Mr. Chairman, our training abroad should not only benefit us as individuals. Our intellect and experiences should benefit our country as well. We are aware of the many challenges confronting our beloved country. Moving forward, we hope to use our voice in advocacy and our skills in creating solutions to the numerous challenges.

Moving forward, we hope to use our voice in advocacy and our skills in creating solutions to the numerous challenges bedevilling our nation: the growing menace of illegal mining activities, the age-old canker of corruption, the falling standards of education, our poor work ethics, lack of investment in research and scholarship.

All these and more are problems we hope to address. They are not easy to tackle but they are not unsurmountable. We shall not be just another voice but the voice of reason.”

Hon. Ama Dokua Asiamah Agyei, Deputy Information Minister, delivered a speech on behalf of Education Minister Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. In her speech, she drew the attention to brain drain in Ghana and the need for Ghanaian professionals abroad to make their presence felt back home in their areas of expertise.

This was followed by the swearing in ceremony of the executives where the president; Jojo France-Mensah, vice-president; Priscilla Mansah Codjoe, secretary; Salim Nuhu Ahmed, Treasurer and Anthony Twumasi, Public-Relations Officer were sworn into office by Mr E-B Asare-Asiedu, the acting Head of the Embassy. He charged the executives to work diligently to improve the lives of graduate students and encouraged Ghanaian professionals to return home to develop Ghana where help is most needed.

Eminent Ghanaian professionals also present, shared their story with the gathering. Dr Yao Ababio, president of KNUST Alumni, North America; Mr Janis Bediako, president of Global Geotechnical Consults; James Grant Money, Business Analyst; Leslie Mills, a World Bank consultant and Korantemaa Larbi, Architect and CEO of Design 233 were all there to express their goodwill and exchanged conversation with students.

GRASAG-USA is poised to make waves in the student welfare space and we can expect many good things to come from its executive team and supporting committees. We thank all who made it possible especially our liaisons at the Ghana Embassy, Washington DC for a good work done.

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The committee ruled that, the declaration of results made by the Electoral Commission on Saturday, April 29, 2017, be upheld to be the valid results of the elections.

To this end, there will be no re-run of the entire election as the petitioners had advocated for. The reasons being that;

1. The claims of irregularities made by the petitioners have not been clearly demonstrated to materially affect the results of the elections.
2. There was not sufficient evidentiary document to support or validate the claims of irregularities made by the petitioners.
3. The claims made were not directly relating to the election results, but relating to the evidence surrounding and leading up to the elections, which should have been raised and addressed before or during the elections.

But the order for the reinstatement and incorporation of votes from VALCO PHASE TWO polling station in the final results of the elections was upheld.

This was so because not incorporating the votes will mean that voters have been disenfranchised as the already cast ballots would not be reflected in the final results.

On this ruling, the votes for only the organizing secretary was counted in the presence of all aspirants, their agents, members of the judicial committee and all observers present.

The results of the number of votes that were cast before the shutdown of the VALCO PHASE TWO polling stations are outlined below;

No CANDIDATE NO OF VOTES

1. Elorm Tagbortor 14
2. Sylvester Amoah 14
3. Angelo Norkplim 15

TOTAL 43

The above votes were incorporated in the already existing votes. Hence, Elorm Tagbortor emerged as the Organizing Secretary Elect for GRASAG-UG.

To this effect therefore, the committee ordered the Electoral Commissioner to republish the final results which would reflect the votes from VALCO Phase Two for the organizing secretary position.

Also, the Association also received the mandate to go ahead with the swearing in as well as the handover processes in a bid to set her on track for the mantle of new leadership, which hopefully would spur her to higher dimensions of growth.
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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Association, after carrying out a protest march to press home their demands for the immediate release of their monies on Wednesday, say they have received no positive response from government.

President of the University of Ghana chapter of GRASAG, Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei, in an interview with Citi News said although the Employment Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, receiving their petition on behalf of the Finance Minister on Thursday promised government’s commitment to resolve the issue, they are yet to be contacted by government on the matter.

He said the association has planned series of actions to ensure the monies due them are paid.

“This is the first in a series of our actions. I want to believe that the Minister will be honorable enough. He told us he was going to study it [petition] and that we should give him 24 to 72 hours to look at it. We also said we will come on Friday to ask for a response.”

On the Association taking legal actions against government, Kwame Asafo-Adjei said “it is in order” and “not far-fetched.”

‘GRASAG planned to picket flagstaff house’

GRASAG earlier last month planned to picket at the Flagstaff House over their concerns, but called it off to further engage the government in addressing their concerns.

However, the association said government did not adequately address their concerns hence their decision to embark on a demonstration.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GRASAG threatens legal action over delayed bursaries, thesis grant appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Their protest march was to put pressure on government to fast-track processes to pay the monies, which have been in arrears since the 2015/2016 academic year.

GRASAG earlier this month planned to picket at the Flagstaff House over their concerns, but called it off to further engage the government in addressing their concerns.

However, the association indicated that government did not adequately address its concerns hence the demonstration.

The group marched from the Obra spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle through some principal streets in Accra and converged on the Hearts Park where they presented their petition to government.

The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), which had endorsed the GRASAG protest, was also present at the demonstration to offer its support.

Some of the protesting who students conveyed their frustrations to Citi News‘ Philip Nii Lartey, lamented what they called government’s lack of concern and urgency to release the bursary grant.

“We’ve put enough pressure on government so this is one of the options we have; and we are communicating to government that it should expect worse,” one student said.

Another lamented that, “we were supposed to receive this bursary in March, but as we speak, we have not received it. The government has consistently relented on its efforts to release the bursary to us.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Graduate students march against delayed bursaries, thesis grant appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Their action is to put pressure on government to fast-track processes to pay them the monies, which have been in arrears since last academic year.

GRASAG earlier this month planned to picket at the Flagstaff House over their concerns, but called it off to further engage the government in addressing their concerns.

However, the association says government did not adequately address their concerns hence the demonstration.

According to a statement signed by the President of the Association, Rashid Kwesi Etuaful, and copied to citifmonline.com, their meetings with the Scholarship Secretariat and the Ministry of Education to have the payments initiated have proved futile.

The demonstrators will march from the Obra Spot through Nkrumah Avenue, Kinbu SHS – Tema Station – Atta Mills High Street to the Hearts of Oak Park (Art Centre), where a press conference will be held before a petition is submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the President through the Chief of Staff.

The statement said the action will commence at the Obra Spot, Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 7:30am.

‘USAG endorse GRASAG action’

The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), endorsed the Graduate Students Association of Ghana’s (GRASAG) decision to picket at the Flagstaff House. They said GRASAG’s action was in the right direction to demand what is due them to be paid with immediate effect.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GRASAG to demonstrate today over bursaries, thesis grants appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Association planned to picket at the Flagstaff House last week but called off the action with the aim of engaging government further on the issue.

But a statement signed by the President of the Association, Rashid Kwesi Etuaful and copied to citifmonline.com said their concerns have still not been adequately addressed.

He said the Association’s meeting with the Scholarship Secretariat and the Ministry of Education in a bid to have the payments initiated also proved futile.

The planned demonstration will see the thousands of graduate students march from Obra Spot through Nkrumah Avenue, Kinbu SHS – Tema Station – Atta Mills High Street to the Hearts of Oak Park (Art Centre) where it will hold a press conference before submitting a petition to the Ministry of Finance and the President through the Chief of Staff.

Read the full statement below:

GRASAG DEMONSTRATES AGAINST DELAY OF BURSARIES AND THESIS GRANT THIS WEDNESDAY, 28.09.16

The leadership of Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) last week called off the planned picketing at the Flagstaff House to press home our demand for the release of bursary and thesis grant. The main reason behind the call off among several others was to engage government further,  as moves were made by same but unfortunately as at now we have not been able to get government to give us definite assurance on the release of our bursaries and thesis grant. Again, meetings with the Scholarship Secretariat and the Ministry of Education have not yielded the desired results.

Leadership thus announces to all members, the media and the general public that our planned Demonstration comes off this Wednesday, 28th September, 2016 as communicated earlier.

On this note, members are expected to report at Obra Spot, Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 7:30am and are humbly requested to wear any Black or Red attire for the demonstration or any attire with a touch of GRASAG. The GRASAG National President will address the gathering briefly after which we will all March through some principal streets of Accra and end at the Hearts of Oak Park, National Arts Centre.

Routes For The Demonstration

Obra Spot – Nkrumah Avenue – Farisco Traffic Light – Kinbu SHS – Tema Station – Atta Mills High Street – Hearts of Oak Park (Art Centre)

There will be a press conference at the Hearts of Oak Park after the Demonstration to brief the media on this action.

Petitions will also be presented to the Ministry of Finance and the President through the Chief of Staff.

Conclusion & Special Invitation

Leadership will use this opportunity to invite all graduate students and stakeholders of Ghana’s education to come out in their numbers to support this good cause.

Thank you.

Long live GRASAG

Long live Ghana

Signed

RASHID KWESI ETUAFUL

National President

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By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This was carried in a release signed by the Association’s President, Henry Nkosuo.

[contextly_sidebar id=”sSdjXPLwoYQFu4VFmjC5okV4JEvLphxF”]GRASAG has threatened to picket at the Flagstaff House next week over government’s delay in releasing bursary and thesis grant, amounting to over GH₵4 million, due them for their research work.

USAG in the statement said it will “wholeheartedly support the action of GRASAG…in order for what is due them to be paid with immediate effect.”

Below is the full release:

USAG ENDORSES THE GRASAG ACTION TO PICKET THE FLAGSTAFF HOUSE

The recent course of events and actions of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) concerning their unduly delayed and legitimate payment of their Bursary and Thesis Grant on the part of government has caused us to join in their struggle. This is a move to push for what is right and good for the Ghanaian University Student.

We believe that a compromise in government’s role in ensuring quality education for all citizens if not corrected today will develop into an uncontrollable beast to eat up all students sooner or later.

Therefore, we the University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) strongly believe and  whole heartedly support the action of GRASAG to picket the Flagstaff House all in order for what is due them to be paid with immediate effect.

Most members of USAG have that definite aspiration to pursue higher education hence are very hopeful of becoming members of GRASAG one day.

We would finally want to assure our senior comrades in GRASAG that we are with them and would come out in our numbers to support whatever action they deem fit and legitimate in achieving the required results.

Long live University Students of Ghana

Long live Mother Ghana

Signed.

*HENRY NKOSUO BOAKYE*

(USAG President)

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Association has lamented that the delay in the payment of the allowance, amounting to about GHc4 million, has put the students under undue financial stress and stifled academic endeavors.

The President of GRASAG, Rashid Kwesi Etuaful thus held that “the state should release the bursaries as a matter of urgency.”

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Etuaful recounted two months of lobbying at the relevant state agencies like the Ministry of Education yielded no positive results.

He also said the association had no explanation for the delay in payment given there has been the approval for disbursement.

He noted that“the challenge now is that we don’t know why the Ministry of Finance is not paying the money when approval has been given and so we are giving an ultimatum, from now to about [September] 16. They should be able to mobilise the money.”

But if the association’s ultimatum is not heeded to, Mr. Etuaful said, “we are telling the President that we shall come and join him at the Flagstaff House. We will just go and sit there until he gives us the order that the money should be paid.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmoline.com/Ghana

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