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Fifteen thousand first-year students in public tertiary institutions have had their academic-related fees cleared under the newly launched “No Fees Stress” policy, a sweeping intervention by President John Dramani Mahama to remove financial barriers to higher education.
Speaking at the policy launch at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua last Friday, President Mahama declared the initiative a "moral, constitutional, and developmental imperative" aimed at ensuring that no qualified Ghanaian student is denied tertiary education due to financial constraints.
"As we speak, academic user fees have been cleared for an initial 15,000 students under this policy. This is just the beginning,” President Mahama said.
The event, held on the theme: "No Fees Stress: Providing Equal Financing for Tertiary Education", was graced by key stakeholders, including the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu; the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, heads of tertiary institutions and student leaders.
Also present was the new Juabenmanhene, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, and the new Juabenmanhemaa, Nana Juaben Serwaa III.
The policy, effective this academic year, covers admission fees for first-year students in public universities, colleges of education, technical universities and nursing training institutions.
It comes as data reveal thousands of students annually defer or abandon their education due to unaffordable fees, which range from GH¢1,362 in colleges of education to GH¢8,000 in some universities.
"Behind each number is a name, a face, a dream deferred," President Mahama said, emphasising the urgency of the intervention.
"This policy is more than a budgetary item. It is about affirming that the right to education is not a privilege for the wealthy, but a shared national inheritance," he added.
Aside from the No-Academic-Fees provision for first-year students, the “No Fees Stress” policy includes a restructured Student Loan Plus scheme for continuing students, and free tertiary education for persons with disability.
Additionally, students in fee-paying programmes will receive reimbursements of up to GH¢2,500.
"Education is the great equaliser; it bridges the gap between where a child is born and what that child can become,” the President said.
Citing models from Germany, Norway and Finland, President Mahama stressed that Ghana must not lag in prioritising education as a public good.
"These countries have developed highly skilled populations, reduced youth unemployment and enhanced civic engagement.
Ghana must not be left behind,” he said.
The President urged stakeholders, including tertiary institutions and private sector actors, to support the policy’s implementation.
"To our students, this opportunity is yours to seize. Focus, excel, and commit yourselves to serving Ghana," he charged.
The policy aligns with Article 38(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates equal access to tertiary education.
"We are building a Ghana where opportunity is not inherited but created," President Mahama said.
Earlier, the Minister of Education announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would double the allocation to the Student Loan Trust Fund from GH¢70 million to GH¢140 million by next year to support the implementation of the policy.
With the policy now in effect, the government anticipates a surge in tertiary enrolment, marking a pivotal step towards inclusive education and national development.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund, Dr Saajida Shiraz, revealed at the event that over 124,000 first-year students had successfully applied for financial support under the “No Fees Stress” policy.
Dr Shiraz indicated that 148,429 students accessed the portal, with 124,338 completing their applications.
She disclosed that 49,956 students had already been validated for reimbursement, with more set to be processed in the coming days.
So far, enrolment data for 135,255 students have been submitted by tertiary institutions.
Dr Shiraz emphasised strong collaboration between the fund, the Ministry of Education, Vice-Chancellors Ghana, technical universities and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth rollout.
She also announced the upcoming launch of Student Loan Plus, which will provide enhanced support for continuing students from the 2025/2026 academic year.
