Leadership of the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) has called on government to exempt educational institutions from the nationwide load-shedding exercise.

USAG claims the situation is adversely affecting teaching and learning on the various campuses.

Government has intensified the load-shedding exercise, releasing a schedule to regulate between 440 megawatts (MW) and 650MW of power.

Hospitals and special institutions like the Kotoka International Airport have been exempt from the exercise.

Information and International Relations Secretary of USAG Joshua Nana Otu Darko acknowledged government’s interventions in the power sector but called for a wavering of some sort for universities.

“Inasmuch as we recognize the various interventions by the government to ensure fiscal prudence, we also reiterate that some of these interventions make living and financing of university education very difficult,” Master Otu Darko said, “in that they shift cost to consumers i.e students.”

He said cases of crime on students have increased while evening lectures have ceased as a result of the power crisis.

“The result has been decreasing student performances.”

He called for a second look at the exercise as regards major educational institutions.