NUGS To Sue Gov't…They Are Insensitive

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is threatening a legal action against the government over the non-payment of monies into the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND). The accusation is that, as of now, the government is yet to account for an amount of ?549.98 billion being arrears for the past three years. The Union has therefore given government up to July to pay up the arrears or, be prepared for the consequences with a menacing “anything can happen.”

NUGS president, Edward Kofi Omane Boamah pointed out to the Network Herald in an interview, the increasing frustration that is being expressed by the Union at the apparent lip service the government is paying education. “We are at our wits’ end,” he complained.

The students leader assured his colleagues through our medium, that if the July ultimatum were not met, the Union would first employ one of the options open to it- take the matter to court- to ensure that the right thing is done. He also reckons that a court action over such a constitutional provision would ensure that issues concerning students are given the attention they deserve. “If they do not pay, we’ll go to court,” but if that fails to yield the desired results, he also hinted of students exploiting “any other lines of action open to the Union.”

The NUGS president said nothing but the full payment of the arrears would be good enough. “If you pay half, we shall treat the rest as a loan and take interest on it,” he said. “We’ve been taken for granted for far too long. They are insensitive to education, NDC did it, and now, NPP is also doing it.

Mr. Boamah pointed out that the Union’s case is with Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo (MP) whose 2003 budget statement gave an indication that the accumulation in the arrears for the District Assemblies Common Fund and the GETFUND will be given “a half-hearted” attention.

“Mr. Speaker, time has come for both sides of the House and indeed, all of us to be realistic and deal boldly with the issue of arrears accumulated in respect of the DACF and the GETF. We believe that it is unfair and financially imprudent to utilise substantial amounts of current revenues to finance arrears on the DACF and GETF. On the other hand, the Finance Committee of this august House should ensure that the current liabilities of this year are fully discharged.” (2003 budget statement paragraph 158).

NUGS also rejected the minister’s proposal in paragraph 159 of that budget statement to Parliament asking for approval to ring-fence all outstanding arrears including the GETFUND and DACF. His position was that the arrears should be paid within a period of five years.

In its memorandum to the Speaker of Parliament, NUGS stated that, “seeking a period of four solid years to pay monies which have already been collected from the taxpayer is not only legally questionable but also a venture which when left unsecured will cripple the GETF.”

NUGS referred to part I section 4 (2), of the GETF Act 581 which states that “the Value Added Tax service shall within 30 days of receipt of Value Added Tax revenue pay directly into the bank accounts opened under sub-section (1) the proportion of the value Added Tax revenue that is required to be paid into the Fund under section 3 (a).” and suggests that parliament’s contrary position could be legally questionable.

The NUGS president expressed regret that in spite of the numerous problems that education in the country faces, governments remain insensitive and added his voice to the education has suffered for far too long slogan. Mr. Boamah pointed at the unhygienic nature of some of the campuses and the congestion that could lead to epidemic or even fire outbreak and wondered whether the GETFUND is not becoming more of a substitute than a supplement.

The National Union of Ghana Students sent a memo dated March 17 to the Speaker, copied to the Minister for Finance, but according to the union, nothing has been done since, not even a letter acknowledging receipt. The students therefore feel very slighted and intend to use other means to ensure that; they receive the needed attention and the arrears paid promptly.

Omane is also frustrated at what he called “gross confusion” in the Ministry of Education. He refused to explain what he meant by gross confusion but said three weeks after the ministerial reshuffle; the new Minister for Education, Youth and Sport is yet to commence work, making it difficult for major decisions concerning education to be taken