Bussiness
Ghana Tertiary Education Commission collating proposals for new fees
Professor Mohammed Salifu, Director-General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), says the Commission is putting together proposals to be presented to Parliament for the review of fees for tertiary educational institutions for the next academic year.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament sitting in Accra, Prof Salifu said the review had become necessary because the pricing and fees schedules and regimes had changed.
The Director-General was at PAC to respond to issues raised in the 2019 Auditor-General’s Report concerning the commission.
The GTEC is the successor organisation to both the National Accreditation Board and the National Council for Tertiary Education.
The Report indicated that the National Accreditation Board in 2015/2016, contrary to Regulations 2(b), 5(4), 22(2) and 23(4) of LI 1984 (2010) of the National Accreditation Board Regulations, the Board reviewed its service charges at the 92nd Board meeting without parliamentary approval.
The Auditors recommended that Management should take steps to get parliamentary approval in order to avoid any legal challenges.
It said the auditors observed that the Board did not take any action on those who flouted the law by advertising, operating and running unaccredited institutions and programmes.
It also recommended that the Board should ensure compliance with the Act and persons found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Dr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of PAC, asked Professor Salifu why GTEC was charging fees without Parliamentary approval.
The chairman wanted to know also what action had been taken so far against unaccredited institutions.
Prof Salifu said GTEC inherited the assets and liabilities of both the National Accreditation Board, as well as that of the National Council for Tertiary Education.
He explained that following the recommendation of the Auditors, the then National Accreditation Board took steps to address the issue.
“Because we provide oversight for the sector, we are aware that this problem was even beyond the National Accreditation Board, there was a lot of sensitizations about the implications of the Fees and Charges Act for the entire Tertiary sector,” he said.
“Previously, what happened was that even at the university level once the Board/Council approves the fees it was going to be effected, and our attention was drawn to the fact that there was the Fees and Charges Act that all of us have to oblige.”
He said subsequently, what GTEC had being doing was collate all the inputs, before presenting the joint Finance Committee and Legal Committee of Parliament for them to consider it; saying “the fees that are being charged now are fees that have been approved by the Joint Committee”.
Dr Avedzi: “Are you reviewing your fees again?”
Prof Salifu: “We have collated this for this current year for the entire sector and we were supposed to go through the same process but until we have had it reviewed, we are applying the fees that were last approved.”
Dr Avedzi asked Prof Salifu whether he was aware of the Parliament had passed the Fees and Charges Amendment Act, 2022, to which Prof Salifu replied that the entire Tertiary sector, including the regulatory bodies were part of the Fees and Charges Amendment Act, 2022.
Source: GNA
Bussiness
Ghana to host mining and minerals convention 2025 to shape future of gold industry
Ghana’s gold and minerals sector is set for a major spotlight as Meetings. Co, in partnership with key industry stakeholders, announces the Mining & Minerals Convention 2025, scheduled from August 26-27, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Gold Industry,”‘ the Convention will convene government leaders, regulators, miners, refiners, investors, sustainability partners, innovators, and responsible mining, and global competitiveness,policy experts to explore strategies that position Ghana’s gold industry for long-term growth.
The two-day convention will feature presidential and ministerial keynote addresses, industry thought leadership, technical paper presentations, policy dialogues, fireside chats, exhibitions, and high-level networking sessions.
Convention delegates can anticipate a dynamic and insightful experience, marked by thought leadership from leading policymakers and regulators, in-depth discussions on key topics such as sustainability, ESG, digital gold, and responsible sourcing, as well as valuable opportunities to forge public-private partnerships and investment deals.
Moreover, the event will offer practical action points aimed at unlocking greater economic value for Ghana.
The 2025 edition will be supported by a strong coalition of strategic partners, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, GoldBod, the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF), and the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI).
Bussiness
Finance Minister tranfers funds to DACF, NHIS and GETFUND
The Minister for Finance Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson has disclosed that a sum of nine hundred and Eighty-Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Five thousand and Seventy-Three Ghana Cedis (GHS987,965,073.00) from the Consolidated Fund into the District Assembly Common Fund Account, being the first quarter amount due to the DACF.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister informed the House that a total amount of Two Billion, Thirty- Three Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Seven Ghana Cedis (GHS2,033,469,607) has been disbursed to the National Health Insurance Fund.
While the Ghana Education Trust Fund has also received a total of Two Billion, Seven and Ten Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Ghana Cedis (GHS2,710,227,947.00) for the months January, February, March and April,2025.
The Finance Minister disclosed this in his statement to Parliament on the payments to statutory funds on the floor of the House.
In addition, he cautioned that the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund is required to ensure that 80% of this amount is transferred directly to the Assemblies without fail and expenditure returns submitted to the Ministry of Finance before subsequent releases will be made.
He added that Members are encouraged to monitor the utilization of these amounts sent to their respective Assemblies in line with the approved guidelines by Cabinet.
In his closing remark, Ato Forson said he’s going to take the concerns of the House seriously.
For his part, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga made known the President’s prioritization of women in the country stating that President Mahama is “Pro-women”.
This is due to the fact that women are going to be the core beneficiaries from the expenditures going to be made by the MMDA’s, he added.
The Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned the Finance Minister why road contractors have not been paid for more than five months. He said the Minister must not be applauded for since the allocation of these funds were long overdue.
