Students at the Veterinary College (VETCo) in Pong Tamale, Ghana, have staged a peaceful protest to address several concerns related to poor welfare conditions at the institution.
Their grievances include a lack of animals for practical training, overcrowded classrooms and dormitories, inadequate water supply, insufficient toilet facilities leading to open defecation, subpar and insufficient food for students, and a shortage of projectors for teaching.
During the demonstration, the students submitted a petition to the College’s Principal and also shared it with the Chief of Pong Tamale and others. They have given the College a 72-hour ultimatum to respond to their demands.
Ndebila Jacob Abande, President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of VETCo, expressed his disappointment, noting that despite an increase in school fees for the current academic year, there has been no noticeable improvement.
He called for the removal of certain fees, questioning why students are charged for developmental projects, maintenance fees, and ICT fees without receiving the corresponding services.
Jacob Elisha, a student at VETCo, pointed out that first-year students haven’t even had practical training during the entire semester and are unfamiliar with the location of the animal pen.
