Students with special needs at the University of Ghana, Legon, have threatened to protest against the government over the delays in their bursary payments.
In a press release, the Campus Association of Students with Special Needs (CASSN) noted that despite having submitted all necessary documentation over seven months ago to the Scholarship Secretariat, there has been no communication regarding the status of their annual bursary payments.
The association called for a definitive timeline for the disbursement of funds and sought assurances from the government that students with special needs will not be disadvantaged during this period.
The CASSN has issued a two-week ultimatum, warning that demonstrations will occur if the funds are not disbursed.
“The Campus Association of Students With Special Needs (CASSN)at the University of Ghana, Legon Association is calling on the Government of Ghana and the Scholarship Secretariat to address the urgent matter of delayed bursary payment This delay is causing significant distress among our members, many of whom rely solely on these bursaries to cover their tuition fees for the upcoming academic year. The uncertainty surrounding our financial situation is creating a sense of anxiety and frustration within our community.
“Despite submitting our details and information over seven months ago, students with special needs have yet to receive any information regarding our annual bursary payments. Repeated follow-ups have yielded the same disheartening response: there are no funds available. If we do not receive a satisfactory response within two weeks, we will be forced to embark on a protest or demonstration to highlight this critical matter and demand the necessary action,” portions of the statement read.
According to the statement, the ongoing delay has sparked anxiety and frustration among the students, leaving them in a state of financial uncertainty as the new academic year approaches.
These bursaries are crucial for many members of CASSN as they rely on them to pay their tuition fees for the upcoming academic year.
“We urge the Government and the Scholarship Secretariat to take immediate action to resolve this issue. We demand a clear timeline for the disbursement of our bursaries and a commitment to ensuring that students with special needs are not disadvantaged due to these delays.