Rawlings: Ghana must increase academic fees for foreign students

Former president Jerry John Rawlings is warning of "growing animosity" between Ghanaians and foreign students in the universities because of a stiff competition for placements and services such as accommodation.

He is therefore urging University authorities to increase academic fees paid by foreign students that can be used to make the cost of education for Ghanaians more affordable.

Fresh from his award as a Global Champion for People’s Freedom by the Mkiva Humanitarian Foundation at the Walter Sisulu University, South Africa, the ex-president says Ghanaians risk being viewed by foreigners as "second or third rate citizens" in their own country typical of the notion during the dark days of 1979.

According to him, "Ghanaians are going through a hard time; go and see the accommodation our students have to live in because a lot of these foreign students have taken over most of the places... it is creating animosity against foreigners. I don't like it, it's not a healthy situation at all".

He said other governments have addressed similar situations by increasing fees of foreign students and wonders why can't we do the same.

"Surely there must be something we can do", Rawlings told Joy News' Elton John Brobbey in an exclusive interview.

He said "they [foreign students] have enough money to pay that much more.

Maintaining the status quo will encourage a high cost in the education sector beyond what Ghanaian students and parents can afford, Rawlings fears.