Prominent youth advocate and scholar Dr. Abdul Samed Muntaka has questioned the viability of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) recent promise to cover all first-year academic costs.
In an interview with 3FM, Dr. Muntaka stressed the possible dangers of waiting for the government to transfer cash to universities, cautioning that this could cause a crisis within these establishments.
Dr. Muntaka emphasised that in order to address a variety of operational needs, universities significantly rely on the prompt payment of first-year student fees.
“Continuing students often take time to pay their fees, so universities rely heavily on the money first-year students pay. While it’s not the only source of income for these institutions, it is a significant part because first-year students are required to pay full fees.
“The critical question is: how quickly will the government release these funds? And how will the implementation be structured? Will students need to register before the funds are released, or will the money be disbursed to universities ahead of student registration? This is where the real challenge lies. If these funds are delayed, universities could face serious crisis,” he explained.
Furthermore, Dr. Muntaka emphasized that the NDC should put the needs of the youth ahead of political advantages and emphasized that putting such a program into action would entail significant sacrifices.
“To fund this policy, significant sacrifices will be necessary. We need to see fewer luxury vehicles like Land Cruisers, fewer allowances, and a reduction in waste within the system to generate the necessary funds to cover these fees. If the NDC is truly committed to this initiative, it’s a positive step forward.
“However, my concern is that this should not be a promise made solely to win votes. If promises are made with the sole intent of securing electoral support, it raises doubts about the commitment to actual implementation. The likelihood of failing to deliver on such promises becomes much higher,” Dr. Muntaka added.