JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS)

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION WINNEBA (UEW) AND KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST) SECRETARIATS ON THE 16TH MARCH, 2009.

(DELAY OF STUDENTS’ LOAN)

The above Secretariats of National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) wish to express our dissatisfaction about the delay of our “life blood” on campus- the students’ loan.

It must be recalled that since our Universities reopened mid- January, 2009, students have still not received their monies. This has indeed made life unbearable for students on campuses. This is because over 80% of beneficiaries of the scheme rely on the loan as their main source of livelihood on campus.

It has become necessary to publish this press release on the state of the students’ loan on campus. The secretariats’ have had all the patience in demanding for the loan payment and now WOULD WANT TO RESORT TO A MORE STRINGENT APPROACH IN ORDER TO HAVE OUR LOANS. Information reaching us from our research team indicates that FUNDS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO THE SLTF FOR DISBURSEMENT. REASON: GETFUND HAS NOT RELEASED FUNDS TO THE LOAN TRUST FUND GETFUND BOARD WAS DISSOLVED AND RECONSTITUTED FUNDS HAVE NOT BEING RELEASED BY GOVERNMENT.

ROOT CAUSE IS THE DELAY BY GOVERNMENT WE ARE CALLING ON ALL STUDENTS THEREFORE TO BE VIGILANT AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT LINE OF ACTION. WE THINK THAT IN NO WAY SHOULD A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT AFFECT OUR LOAN DISBURSEMENT. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REASONS AND THEREFORE DEMAND MORE THAN REASONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. The above secretariats will be holding a press conference to address this issue. I MUST HASTEN TO ADD THAT AN ULTIMATUM OF ONE WEEK IS THE MAXIMUM WE ARE GIVING FOR A RESPONSE.

We therefore implore on the government to come to our aid at these difficult times by facilitating the payment of the loan as soon as possible. We also call for an appreciable increment in the loan, since the amount currently being given to students is nothing to write home about in terms of economic value. Finally, we congratulate the beneficiaries of the loan for their patience shown so far. We still appeal to you to exercise restrain until the issue is resolved. Signed:

Francis Appea NUGS-UCC President

0208252301

Frank Ababio Agyapong NUGS-UG President 0244426469

Frank Wilberforce NUGS-UEW President

Reuben Amuakwa NUGS-KNUST President 0243175593