The academic future of special needs students at the University of Ghana hangs in the balance due to the Scholarship Secretariat’s delay in releasing funds for their tuition fees.
With a November 8 deadline for course registration looming, students are growing increasingly anxious.
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Richmond Yador, a visually impaired law student, expressed his concerns: “My mom is the one who takes care of me, and she borrows from people. As I speak, my mother owes a lot of people because of this school fees matter. I cannot even sleep because anytime I try to sleep, I remember I owe the school.”
Yador, who lost his sight at a tender age, fears deferring his course would be devastating. “I have been in the house for some time now. I completed SHS around 2019, but because of financial matters, I couldn’t come to school. I just came to school last year somewhere in January. So, deferring my course will be a sad thing for me.”
Other students, including Godsway Akpa and Jeff Ayewum, also visually impaired, shared similar struggles.
“When I was coming to the University of Ghana, I was told by my colleagues that the government pays the school fees for persons with disability. But when I came, I was told looking at things, the fees will not be dispensed,” Akpa said.
Foster Kudese, President of the University of Ghana chapter of students with special needs, confirmed that the Scholarship Secretariat has not provided a positive response.
“They told us that they don’t have any money, so if we are planning to demonstrate, then we should go to the Ministry of Finance because they are supposed to release the funds to them before they can pay our fees.”
However, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised free tertiary education for persons with disabilities. “We are going to support them a bit more, providing free tertiary education, both tuition and accommodation, to every person with a disability who makes it into the university.”
The Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, assured that the outstanding fees have been processed and payment will be made next month.
