KNUST Justifies Decision To Force Fee Owing Students To Defer Courses

The management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has justified its decision to ask over 6,000 students to defer their courses.

The University’s Public relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, told Accra-based Joy FM that some of the students have invested their fees in ventures including football gambling, vehicles for online ride-hailing services and bakery.

“The problem we have now is that a number of students are playing games with the University. For example, they use their school fees to buy cars for Uber, others are using it to set up bakeries, and others are also using it for betting, and we have evidence.”

Earlier, authorities of the KNUST had issued a notification that students who owe more than 70 percent of school fees by April 7, would be deferred automatically.

However, the warning did not take effect at the time as students were allowed to take part in mid-semester exams on April 11.

However, students who still had arrears were subsequently made to defer their courses.

In response, some Ghanaians, including MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, have said the measure is high-handed.

However, the KNUST PRO said the deliberate non-payment of fees has been going on for too long.

“Apply the fees policy this year which has been approved by the academic board, and it is required that as an undergraduate student, you must register for your courses at the beginning of the semester and pay 70%.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Bekoe said the University has now “given a window from February through March and April” for students with arrears to pay.