The National Association of Nigerian Students, International Student Association and West Africa Youth Association all in Accra yesterday have described as a “scam”, the imposition of $120 for Foreigners identification card on students from the West Africa sub-region.

The press briefing which was held at Wisconsin International University College and attended by leadership of various student associations in Accra, lasted for about an hour, as the students lamented over the insensitiveness of policy makers to African students, majority of them being Nigerians.

They argued that, the foreigners’ identification card, which cost $120 per head, is a step to draw back the essence and protocol of the Economic Community of West African States.

In his speech, the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ghana: Comrade Paul Bul Philip, who hammered on the fact that the reason for imposing extra charges on students from the West Africa sub-region after paying double the amount citizens pay as school fees; payment of health insurance and also resident permit is unjustifiable.

“What other information does the Ghana government want from us again? After securing international passport, as enshrined in the ECOWAS protocol, we are still subjected, as members of ECOWAS, to pay our school fees in United State dollars, twice what the citizens pays.”

“We are made to pay for resident permit annually, including health insurance; and mind you, all these registration requires our document. So, we don’t see reasons why Ghana government should subject us to such an oppressive policy that we should again pay $120 for Foreigners identification card, for the purpose of gathering ‘data’, which is unfair.”

In the same vein, the President of International Student Association, Comrade Zinami Iwariso Fyneroad, added that the international students association, which majority are from Nigeria and other West African countries are not being treated fairly; firstly, as a student, and secondly as a citizen of Africa. “The international students see this development as a means of extortion from the government. This is a harsh treatment to students whose purpose in Ghana is to study not to do business. We have come to the conclusion that this policy is a scam, targeted at foreign students, which they can easily trace to their schools and deny registration from continuing their education if they refuse to pay.”

“On behalf of International Students in Ghana, we say NO to the Ghana Non-Citizen card”

Speaking further on the inconvenience this new development has caused to the African youth studying in Ghana, President of West Africa Youth Association, Mizodume Iby, said, now, international students are being threatened that without paying $120 for the foreigners identification, “no registration can be allowed to commence. While the new international students have been mandated to do the same, which is not in the spirit of integration ECOWAS is working assiduously to achieve”

NANS President, Paul Bul while answering questions on if they have consulted the Nigeria High Commission on the matter, said: “we have already asked the Nigeria High Commissioner to intervene, but His Excellency Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan made us realise that he has tried ironing the issue out with the Ghanaian authority concerned, but it has not yielded “any favourable response,” a development which has made us come out ourselves and reject this policy as we contribute to Ghana’s educational system, and the economy generally; and we deserve to be treated fairly,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Government of Ghana started issuing the Non-Citizens National Identity Cards to all eligible foreign nationals in Ghana in March 7th.

The exercise under the Foreigners Identification Management System (FIMS) in pursuance of the NIA’s mandate under the NIA Act 2006 (Act 707), the National Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and the National Regulations, 2012 which according the NIA, is to “assist the State to know exactly who lives in Ghana, and also give a better idea about the numbers and real identities of all eligible foreign nationals in Ghana.”