The University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) leadership has expressed serious concerns about the consistent delays in disbursing educational loans.
USAG has highlighted that these delays continue to disrupt students’ academic pursuits, as they heavily rely on these funds to finance their education.
The Association firmly believes that the ongoing delays in distributing student loans are undermining the primary purpose for which the loan scheme was established. They emphasize that, given the current economic conditions, the government’s role in financially supporting students for their education is of utmost importance.
Dr. Christian Ntsiful Addison, President of USAG, has called upon the government to allocate more dedicated funds to support the education of Ghanaian youth. He stated, “This year, we have encountered numerous issues with the disbursement of our student loans. Students can spend an entire academic year in school without receiving the funds until the following year, which defeats the intended purpose. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that the best way to safeguard our students’ education is for the state to provide funding, enabling them to attend school and eventually find employment to repay after graduation.”
During its 22nd annual delegates’ congress in Kumasi, USAG also urged the government to create more employment opportunities for the increasing number of graduates.
Kwasi Agyeman Busia, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), who served as a guest speaker at the event, discussed the collaboration between the DVLA and academia. He highlighted that the DVLA is implementing innovations to improve service delivery at its offices nationwide.
Furthermore, the DVLA aims to empower students with innovative solutions currently in development. The Congress revolved around the theme “Harnessing Student Potential for Economic Revitalization and National Progress.”