University of Ghana Special Needs Students Face Tuition Crisis Amid Delayed Scholarship Payments

Ferdinand | EducationGhana |  November 05| University of Ghana Special Needs Students Face Tuition Crisis Amid Delayed Scholarship Payments

 Special needs students at the University of Ghana face potential course deferment as government scholarship payments remain delayed. Will their tuition be paid before the deadline?

The aspirations of some special needs students at the University of Ghana (UG) are at risk as the government delays the release of their tuition funds. With the registration deadline set for Friday, November 8, 2024, these students face the possibility of deferring their courses if fees are not paid.

For over a year, the Scholarship Secretariat has not disbursed funds, leaving many students struggling to cover their expenses. Richmond Yador, a visually impaired law student, expressed his distress: “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 I owe the school and have to register before Friday.”

Richmond’s story is echoed by other visually impaired students, such as Godsway Akpa and Jeff Ayewum, who share similar financial difficulties. “I was told the government pays the fees for persons with disabilities in tertiary institutions, so I was hopeful. But now, I’m struggling to find money to pay for myself,” said Godsway.

The President of UG’s special needs student chapter, Foster Kudese, confirmed that efforts to secure a positive response from the Scholarship Secretariat have not yielded results. “We reached out to them, and they told us there’s no money. They advised us to approach the Ministry of Finance for the release of funds,” Kudese stated.

Despite these challenges, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged future support, promising free tuition and accommodation for all students with disabilities who qualify for university admission.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, assured students that the outstanding fees have been processed, and payments will be made next month. “The institutions are aware of the special arrangement and always accommodate them,” he said.

With the registration deadline approaching, these students await resolution. Will the promised payments arrive in time, or will their educational journey be interrupted? The coming days will determine their fate.