The Opposition National Democratic Congress is promising an academic fees waiver for first year tertiary students across the country.
This was revealed during the party’s youth manifesto launch on August 12, 2024.
The National Democratic Congress launched a youth manifesto at the University for Professional Studies, to coincide with International Youth Day, which was marked globally.
In an interview on Eyewitness news program, the deputy national youth organizer of the party, Osman Ayariga insisted that it was all about prioritization and not the cost.
Mr. Abanga wondered why there will be doubts about the feasibility of this proposal when the ruling government can afford to use 58 million on a now botched national cathedral.
He noted the party was opened to consulting with the key stakeholders before the policy’s implementation, noting the policy will not cost an eye and a tooth to implement.
Meanwhile the Executive Director of EduWatch Africa, Kofi Asare has expressed the feasibility of the project, noting that the estimated cost, which is pegged at GHC 275 million a year, is 10% of the total cost of implementing the Free SHS program.
In a Face book post, he noted as follows:
‘‘In 2022/23, 125k students were admitted into L 100 in public tertiary institutions. An average freshmen academic fee of GHC 2,200 will require at least GHC 275m a year, equivalent to 10% of free SHS budget.’’