The Ghana School of Law (GSL) has asked the government to move away from the school’s internal funding (IGF) as it is hampering the school’s infrastructure development plans.
According to the school’s Principal Barima Yaw Kodi Oppong, GSL paid more than 12 million Ghana cedis to the government in 2023 alone.
Speaking at the entrance ceremony for the 994 students who passed the law school entrance exam, he appealed to Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin to intervene on behalf of the schools to end this phenomenon.
“Ghana Law School is the only institution that pays a portion of its IGF to the government. In fact, last year we paid over 12 million Ghanaian cedis to the Government of Ghana. Until recently, the government paid a portion of its IGF to the government. It was requisitioned in excess of that amount.
“And if you’re surprised that these buildings that housed you and your friends have had virtually no or significant expansion since 1982, when you graduated from school, that’s such an honor. That’s all because the government shares our funds with us and contributes very little to the expansion,” he said.
He called on the Speaker to request a complete exemption from IGF collections to enable the school to embark on much-needed infrastructure projects to accommodate the ever-increasing law school enrollment.
“So, if you can get your friend the president to work with us, we can get some of that reduced from 34% to 25%. I think we’re pushing Congress to get a complete exemption, so that before you leave office, and at your next inauguration, which may be the last one this term, there’s going to be major infrastructure construction. You’ll see them. Enlarge.
“I know that even the executives tremble when you open your eyes to something. So, in a short period of time, you will not only get our IGF back in full, but you will also get other people, including state agencies, back in full. With the help of financial institutions, they provide us with the facilities we need.
“This is because despite our inadequate infrastructure, we are still unable to meet the reasonable needs of Ghanaians,” he said.
Also read: