University students announce "Mobrowafoo Struggle"

Student leaders have announced the commencement of "unprecedented protests, demonstrations and civil disobedience" dubbed "Mobrowafoo Struggle" to back their demand for the withdrawal of all increases in fees by universities in the country.

Mr. Martin Akotey, Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), told journalists and irate students gathered at University of Ghana, Legon, that the decision to hold the protests was taken at the weekend because students are not in a position to pay more. He said all students are to leave their campuses and solicit the help and sympathy of the general public to make the struggle more meaningful and involving.

"The current policy directed at students is not human centered. We should resist it." He said.

Mr. Nii Narko Dowuona, President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of University of Ghana, said the withdrawal of the 300,000 cedis deposit to be paid by freshmen of the university for 1999/2000 would not mark the end of such hikes in fees in future. He said the fact that the decision to withdraw the fees was not done voluntarily but that the university authorities were forced by the students' threat of legal action shows how unrealistic policies are implemented on campus.

He advised freshmen and their parents not to rush to pay any fees until the fundamental issues at stake have been fully resolved by the student leadership. Nii Dowuona called on government to come out with a more realistic and sustainable solutions to rescue the country's education system from imminent disaster.

The end of the speeches saw the beginning of the "Jama" session where students took to the streets chanting war and solidarity songs.