News
Free tertiary fees for new entrants laudable, but funding may be a challenge – GNAT
The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, has welcomed the proposal to cover academic user fees for first-year tertiary students but has expressed concern about sustainability.
While he acknowledges the benefits of easing the financial burden on students and parents, he warns that the country’s stretched education budget may not be able to bear the weight of such an initiative without careful planning.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, he recognised the proposal by Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education nominee, as a step in the right direction, offering much-needed support for new students.
However, he stressed that while the idea is commendable, the reality of financing it could pose significant challenges for the already fragile national budget.
“While it’s a great move for students, we need to ask ourselves: how much do we actually have to fund these initiatives?” he asked, underscoring the importance of a sustainable funding strategy.
He highlighted the ongoing financial struggles within the education sector, including arrears owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), unpaid bills to school feeding suppliers, and long-overdue payments to food vendors in Senior High Schools (SHS).
To make matters worse, capitation grants have been in arrears for over two years, raising serious concerns about the government’s ability to meet its educational commitments.
Mr Musah also pointed to the need for a broader, more long-term strategy to secure reliable funding for education in Ghana, something GNAT has long advocated for but has yet to see fully implemented.
Without this, he warned that any effort to support first-year students could be short-lived and add even more strain on the system.
Mr Musah agreed that paying first-year university students’ fees is a positive development, and emphasised that its success hinges on the government’s ability to secure sustainable funding.
“Without a solid financial plan, the initiative could face significant challenges and deepen the financial pressures already plaguing the education sector” he concluded.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
