President John Dramani Mahama has launched a nationwide initiative that waives academic user fees for all first-year students at public tertiary institutions, a move aimed at easing financial burdens for families and expanding access to higher education.
Unveiled Thursday in the Eastern Region city of Koforidua, the “No Fees Stress” program forms a cornerstone of Mahama’s post-election “Reset Ghana” agenda. The policy fulfills a 2024 campaign promise and reflects the administration’s broader push to support economically vulnerable students.
“This policy was born out of stories I heard from brilliant but underprivileged students long before I became president,” Mahama said at the launch. “These are not isolated cases—they reflect a systemic barrier we must address.”
The rollout has already gained momentum. According to the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), nearly 130,000 students had registered online for the program by mid-June, with more than 100,000 completing the application process. Government officials say at least 195,000 students have received fee reimbursements so far.
In addition, the SLTF confirmed that 19,703 students were issued second-semester loans as of July 1. Acting SLTF CEO Dr. Saajida Shiraz noted that disbursements were made to students enrolled in 135 public and private institutions.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced further expansions of the program, including special provisions for students living with physical disabilities. He also disclosed a major funding boost: the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will increase its allocation to the SLTF from GH¢70 million to GH¢150 million to accommodate growing demand.
Source:TheDotNews