Some beneficiaries of the Students Loan Trust Fund, from the campuses of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho Technical University and the Evangelical Presbyterian University in the Volta regional capital Ho, have expressed their disappointment in the Nana Addo led administration for the delays in the disbursement of the students’ loan.
Since the establishment of the Trust Fund in 2005, under the Trustee Incorporation Act 1962, Act 820, the Trust Fund has churned out millions of Ghana Cedis, in support of the education of the less privilege tertiary students, who rely on the loan for their fees and other needs. The loans are usually disbursed earliest, two weeks into the semester.
Unfortunately, these students are distressed for having to wait for the past two months into the new semeter without being paid. Some of the students who spoke randomly to Awake News,
noted that their respective schools have started chasing them out of the lecture rooms since they have been unable to register, a situation they describe as frustrating.
According to Joshua Amegatsey of the Evangelical Presbyterian University, he has been to the SLTF office a couple of times to seek clarification but has always returned home dejected. He say, the only response he gets from the office is that “we have not started paying”.
Joshua further alleged that, the delay may be due to the payment of Trainee Allowances, which he said has been paid in the later part of September.
In his view, the Trust Fund is handicapped after that payment, a situation he blames the government for.
Another student from UHAS, who spoke on anonimity, said, he had to borrow some monies from a relative to pay part of his fees and has since been waiting for the disbursement.
He added that, the situation is frustrating, since no definite answer is given anytime he phoned the office.
John Badasu from the Ho Technical University, corroborates the narrative saying he his colleagues are distressed for they would have to pay an extra charge for late registration, when the monies are eventually disbursed.
