The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its promise of free academic fees for Level 100 students.
He described the policy as inconsistent and redundant, noting that the current ‘No Guarantor’ policy already provides financial relief to students.
His comment is on the back of a promise made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that should it win the 2024 general election, it will abolish academic fees for first-year students entering all public universities in Ghana.
The party argued that the policy aims to eliminate a major financial barrier that has kept many talented students from pursuing higher education.
Speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, Mr. Kwarteng questioned the rationale behind the NDC’s proposal.
“I don’t know why he promises that [Free academic fees for level 100 students]. Already, it is a policy that exists. The ‘no guarantor’ policy is essentially even up to your final year; all you need to do is apply.
“What essentially the NDC meant was that first year you are not going to pay fees. We probe further on where they are going to get the money from and they are saying that from student loans and at the end of the day the student is going to pay.
“But granted without even admitting that it is free within the context of the government taking the entire fees, who pays for the second year, and who pays for the third year and the fourth year? it demonstrates that it is just a limping policy. Such a policy logically is not consistent,” he stated.
