Two strong contenders in next week’s National Congress of the Graduate Students’ Association (GRASAG) Presidential race are expressing disappointment in current Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over his silence over the appalling treatment of Graduate students in Ghana.
Raymond Ayilu and Ebenezer Henaku Jr., Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively say Okudzeto Ablakwa and others in government such as Haruna Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga, Omane Boamah, Peter Boamah Otokunor among several others have failed Graduate students in the country by keeping mute in the face of the total neglect of the top research brass of the country.
“These people and others made several promises and were active in coming out as champions of the interest of Ghanaian students at various levels. Now that they wield real power as government officials, they are satisfied with their lot and have decided to be silent about the real issues of Graduate students; issues they are well aware of”.
The duo Okudzeto Ablakwa were particularly disappointed in Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa because he is a minister of Education with direct responsibility for tertiary education. “He has the power to directly make things happen and yet he doesn’t seem to care about our plight”.
Graduate students are complaining about the failure of government to pay bursaries of Graduate students to facilitate research activities this year. The issue of student bursaries seem to be the largest issue as Graduate Students head for their national congress next week with hints of a boycott circulating.
“No bursaries, no congress” seem to be the overriding slogan among the various Graduate students from universities across the country.
