Parliament rejects motion to absorb tertiary fees

After three postponements, Parliament has taken a decision to reject the motion moved by Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga seeking to absorb fees for tertiary students for the 2021 academic year.

If the motion had succeeded, parliament would have requested President Akufo-Addo to absorb fees for tertiary students as part of the relief packages for Ghanaians occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Minority had thrown their weight behind the motion while the Majority argued that the decision would be needless as government has already provided enough support and interventions in the area of education in the wake of the pandemic.

But in a majority decision, parliament voted to reject the motion, but only after a spirited debate from both sides.

The conclusion was reached through a voice vote on the floor on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

Following the ruling, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said the NPP side’s posture will make it difficult for the House to deliberate on matters going forward.

“This was our first opportunity to have cooperation and from those in the government or the ruling party. It means that they are not ready to cooperate nor build consensus,” he told the media.

Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu however, disagrees.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Vice-Chancellors’ Ghana, Prof. John Gyapong noted that universities would have struggled to function if students were absolved from paying fees for the 2021 academic year.