In a resolution that was passed at the union’s 51st Annual Delegates Congress, the union commended the initiative, but warned that if the challenges are not fixed quickly, the policy will fail.

[contextly_sidebar id=”B2qJQm5cEvbfdSIRMloGEy29vGeconP1″]“As a student body, we are always excited at any initiative that will lessen the financial burden on students and by extension parents, so we are increasingly getting worried as we hear of widespread infrastructural and funding challenges which are impacting negatively on teaching and learning in our high schools,” the outgoing Press and Information Secretary of NUGS, Kenneth Sarpong said.

“We are aware that government has released only 20% of the budgetary allocation so far. That is woefully inadequate, and we are calling on the government, to as a matter of urgency, release full funding to school heads and also put in place long-term measures to address issues of infrastructure in our high schools.”

The Free SHS programme was launched by President Akufo-Addo on September 12 at the premises of the West Africa Senior High School in Adenta, Accra. In this flagship programme, the government of Ghana foots all bills including feeding fees, tuition fees and any other accompanying charges.

Since its launch, there have been reports of various challenges facing the programme, including reports of infrastructural and feeding problems, due to the high number of nearly 400,000 students that enrolled.

NUGS elects new leaders

At the congress, NUGS also elected its new leaders for the 2017/2018 academic year, with Frank Amoakohene of the University of Ghana Medical School being president, and Emmanuel Kabu Nartey being the General Secretary.

The others are Derrick Abotsi (Treasurer), Sylvester Kobby Marfo (Coordinating Secretary), Pearl Ossai (Women’s Commissioner), Emmanuel Dogbatsey (Financial Controller), Eric Nana Agyeman (Press and Information Secretary), Solomon Ananpansah (Projects and Programs Secretary), David Mensah (Education and Democratisation Secretary) and Victor Elias Seshie (International Relations Secretary).

NUGS is the umbrella body for all tertiary student unions in Ghana. It was established to champion the cause of Ghanaian students and to serve as a vehicle to mobilize the youth for national development.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @ojsarpong
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Service personnel will from January 2017 be paid a monthly allowance of GH¢559 instead of the GH¢350 they currently receive.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nZA18hj7bRw7M1Pz5UlHQ5KR8qCJslG1″]NUGS in a statement said this show of good faith from the government would enhance the willingness of young people to serve the nation.

“As partners in mooting the idea of the National Service Scheme, NUGS is gratified to note that such an upward adjustment will only serve to incentivize the over 70,000 personnel who are serving our country selflessly in all sectors of our national life and across the length and breadth of our country.”

“The increment essentially will promote and ignite the spirit of service and volunteerism as this indicates government willingness to help youth committed to serving our nation meets their daily expenditure and alleviate their hardships,” the group said in the statement.

Find below the full statement
NUGS COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR INCREASING ALLOWANCE OF NATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNELThe

The National Union of Ghana Students wishes to commend the government of Ghana for increasing the allowances of Service persons from GHC350 to GHC559 representing over 60 percent increment.

The National Union of Ghana Students wishes to commend the government of Ghana for increasing the allowances of Service persons from 350gh to 559gh representing over 60% increment.

As partners in mooting the idea of the National Service Scheme, NUGS is gratified to note that such an upward adjustment will only serve to incentivize the over 70,000 personnel who are serving our country selflessly in all sectors of our national life and across the length and breadth of our country. The increment essentially will promote and ignite the spirit of service and volunteerism as this indicates government willingness to help youth committed to serving our nation meets their daily expenditure and alleviate their hardships.

We are by this statement also drawing the attention of the National Service Scheme to work to reduce all bottlenecks concerning payment of allowances to personnel in order that Service persons are able to access their allowances timely and comfortably.

We are looking forward to even better incentives and arrangements which will improve the living standards of graduates at least for the first year after they have passed out from our tertiary institutions.
—————–END—————–
Signed:
……………………….
Julian M. Cobbinah
National President

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

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The union, in a statement copied to Citi News said government has deceived students by not completing half of the schools as suggested in previous budget statements, and state of the nation addresses by the finance minister, Seth Tekper and President Mahama respectively.

“If the government is being honest to the people of Ghana and for that matter the Students of this great nation, then by now, almost 22 months after that part of the [2014] budget was read, indicating that all the three phases of the construction has different and separate funding, fifty (50) that was at various stages of completion as at November 2014, should have been completed by now, the additional 23 that were funded by the World Bank as at November 2014 should have been completed by now as well, the 2015 budget also made provision for the construction of another 50, this batch too should have been completed, because they were all fully funded.”

The students’ body said “even if we have to compromise with the government that there have been short falls in the budget in a perceived “well-to do” economy that has led to the inability to complete the 100 government funded project, what about the 23 that were not funded by the Ghanaian government?”

The President at the commissioning of the Abodoman Community SHS earlier this month, said 123 of the planned 200 community day senior high schools, were at various stages of completion, and will be completed in his second term of office if his government is retained in power in the upcoming general elections.

But the statement signed by Paul Gyan, the coordinating secretary of NUGS said that is not what Ghanaians signed up for.

He said the Union is therefore demanding an apology from government for deceiving them.

The statement added that “government must realize that the nation cannot develop when issues of education are played with like a doll.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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