Students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa have raised serious concerns over a proposed GH¢2,793,096.80 Students’ Representative Council (SRC) budget for the 2026/2027 first semester, questioning several expenditure items they believe require greater justification. Corrections Policy
The budget, presented by SRC Treasurer Nana Kofi Armoo Quansah to the SRC Parliament on Sunday, November 8, 2026, has triggered widespread debate among students, particularly over allocations for an SRC mobile application, executive facilities, freshers’ reception and campus development projects.
The proposed amount covers a single semester and is more than twice the previous administration’s first-semester budget, prompting students to demand a detailed explanation of how their contributions will be used.
One of the most controversial areas concerns the SRC’s application project, which has been allocated GH¢201,492.50.
A review of the budget identified discrepancies in the way certain technology subscription costs were calculated, particularly payments associated with Apple’s Developer Programme and Google’s Play Store registration.
The budget reportedly lists Apple’s developer fee at US$150 monthly, equivalent to GH¢20,916 annually. However, Apple’s standard Developer Programme membership costs US$99 per year, not US$150 every month.
The company also provides membership fee waivers for eligible accredited educational institutions.
The Google Play developer registration fee has also attracted attention. While the SRC budget reportedly provides US$50 monthly, or US$600 annually, Google’s standard registration charge is a one-time payment of US$25.
Another disputed item involves Cloudflare, for which the budget reportedly allocates US$90 monthly, amounting to US$1,080 annually.
However, Cloudflare offers a free plan with services such as content delivery network support, DDoS protection and firewall features, while its paid plans start at US$20 monthly.
According to Insightghana’s assessment, correcting the pricing of these three items could reduce the application budget by approximately GH¢39,800 to GH¢42,900, including the 10 per cent miscellaneous charge.
The report also identified allocations for storage and email services but noted that the budget did not provide sufficient usage information to establish whether the proposed monthly charges represent value for money.
Students have further questioned why the budget includes 12 months of application operating costs despite covering only one semester.
An additional GH¢94,627 has reportedly been allocated for the design, development and testing of the application, even though the SRC had previously indicated that the project was nearing completion.
These concerns have increased pressure on the SRC leadership to explain the project’s overall cost, identify the developers and clarify how the proposed application will improve student services.
Beyond the technology-related expenditure, the budget’s provisions for receiving freshers have also generated considerable discussion.
According to figures contained in the budget documents reviewed , GH¢84,535 was pre-financed for activities connected to welcoming newly admitted students. Editorial Ethics & Independence
The allocation includes 150 Lacoste shirts, 150 caps, GH¢28,350 for refreshments over nine days, as well as expenses for canopies, tables and chairs.
Students have questioned the amount spent on the reception activities, particularly in relation to the number of beneficiaries and the overall cost of providing the items and services.
The budget also records GH¢173,170 in pre-financed expenditure for servicing printing and projection equipment. This includes GH¢101,970 allocated to repairing LED projectors, receiving cards and 8,000-watt power stabilisers.
Together, the two identified pre-financed allocations amount to GH¢257,705. UMaT Today also reported an additional GH¢20,000 pre-financed for interior work in five executive rooms, bringing the reported pre-financed expenditure to at least GH¢277,705.
This has raised another important question: where did the money used for these initial payments come from?
During his State of the SRC Address on November 7, SRC President Listowell Apochi Boade reportedly disclosed that his administration inherited an account balance of GH¢124.96.
Students have questioned how the administration could finance expenditure exceeding that opening balance.
However, the previous administration’s treasurer has disputed the figure, suggesting that a retention fund had been left behind. The available budget documents do not clearly identify the source of the pre-financed expenditure or explain the repayment arrangements.
Other allocations attracting attention include GH¢218,350 for the renovation of lovers’ benches and summer huts. Of this amount, GH¢81,950 is earmarked for lovers’ benches, while GH¢136,400 is allocated to summer huts at the SPETS and Mathematics departments.
The budget also provides GH¢200,000 for the SRC Hall Commission and GH¢111,740 for the SRC office and five executive rooms.
Additional allocations include GH¢82,170 for sports and campus competitions, GH¢68,750 for UMaT’s delegation to the 59th National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) conference, GH¢65,141 for a leadership summit and financial literacy programmes, and GH¢33,000 for the State of the SRC programme. Editorial Standards
The controversy has also drawn attention to the financial position inherited by the current administration.
President Boade reportedly identified GH¢409,165.86 in outstanding debts, comprising GH¢191,900 in administrative debt associated with the previous SRC elections and GH¢217,265.86 linked to the FIMS summer hut project.
Responding to the criticism, Boade has maintained that a budget is a financial plan outlining proposed commitments and priorities rather than proof that the entire amount has already been spent.
He has welcomed scrutiny and constructive criticism, insisting that his administration remains committed to transparency and delivering results for students.
The SRC president has also outlined welfare initiatives, including plans to pay GH¢200 of the GH¢400 resit examination fee for 500 students, establish three water stations and introduce motorcycles for a student-operated SRC delivery service.
Despite these proposed initiatives, students continue to demand detailed explanations of the disputed allocations before accepting the budget.
The controversy is not entirely new at UMaT. The previous administration also faced criticism over its first-semester budget, which was initially presented at GH¢1,413,790 before being reduced to GH¢1,311,475 following student protests.
It remains unclear whether the current GH¢2,793,096.80 budget has received final approval from the SRC Parliament.
The debate presents an important test of accountability within UMaT’s student leadership. While the SRC requires resources to execute its programmes, students also deserve clear information about how their contributions are being managed.
Ultimately, the administration will need to demonstrate that its proposed expenditure delivers measurable benefits rather than simply presenting a list of financial commitments.
A transparent breakdown, supporting quotations and clear explanations of outstanding payments could help restore confidence and ensure that student welfare remains central to the council’s priorities.