Private university colleges in Ghana are calling on the government to review and reduce the taxes and fees they pay for accreditation and affiliation with public universities.
President of Neumann University College, Rev. Dr. John Osei Appiah, believes such relief will empower private tertiary institutions to expand their infrastructure and complement government’s efforts in providing quality higher education.
Speaking to JoyNews at the college’s joint graduation and matriculation ceremony at Atwima Takyiman in the Kwadaso Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Dr. Osei Appiah also appealed for the inclusion of private universities in government’s policy of absorbing fees for first-year students.
According to him, easing the financial pressures on private institutions will help bridge educational gaps, create more access for young people, and strengthen Ghana’s human resource base.
“We appeal to the government to reduce the high fees private tertiary educational institutions, including the Neumann College, pay yearly to these government institutions such as the affiliate mentoring institution fees, and the accreditation of courses fees,” he said.
Dr. Osei Appiah further backed Ghana’s initiative to export trained nurses to foreign countries, describing it as a pragmatic approach to job creation and foreign exchange generation.
He observed that Ghana’s economic reliance on gold and cocoa exports is unsustainable in the long term.
“We can not only depend on gold and cocoa for export and foreign exchange earnings. We can also demand on other services, like exporting professionals for foreign exchange. Gold, especially, is a finite resource. We must diversify our exports, and human capital is one of our greatest assets,” he stated.
Encouraging the graduating students, Dr. Osei Appiah urged them to uphold integrity and professionalism as they enter the world of work, reminding them that “service to mankind is service to God.”
Source: Isaac Normenyo