The Public Accounts Committee of Ghana has instructed Wiawso College of Education to introduce more effective and creative measures to recover GH¢380,315.23 in unpaid student fees, much of which is owed by former students.
This directive follows revelations in the Auditor-General of Ghana’s report, which showed that 1,016 students collectively owe the college GH¢587,397.13. Of that amount, 510 graduates are responsible for a significant GH¢488,085.85.
During an appearance before the Committee in Kumasi, school authorities reported that they have managed to retrieve GH¢207,081.90 so far—less than half of the total outstanding debt.
Management explained that a large share of the arrears is linked to the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme, where some participants completed their studies but neither settled their fees nor returned to collect their certificates.
The college noted that it has been using certificate collection as leverage to prompt payments, but acknowledged that the method has proven largely ineffective.
The Committee, however, expressed dissatisfaction with this approach, urging the institution to adopt more proactive recovery strategies.
“I think that sitting down to wait for people to come for their certificates before you recover the money is not good enough. You have been instructed to recover the monies. You need to come up with innovative ways of recovery.
“These are teachers who are in the system and are being paid, so there are ways of tracking the monies,” said Shirley Kyei, a member of the Committee and MP for Atwima Nwabiagya South