'No Fees Stress': 15,000 fresh students reimbursed — President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the tuition fees for 15,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions have already been fully paid under the new “No Fees Stress” policy.

The landmark initiative, unveiled last Friday at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua, is designed to eliminate financial obstacles that prevent many young Ghanaians from accessing higher education.

Speaking at the launch, President Mahama described the initiative as a "moral, constitutional, and developmental imperative" that affirms the right of every Ghanaian to tertiary education, regardless of income.

"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 stated.

The event, held under the theme “No Fees Stress: Providing Equal Financing for Tertiary Education”, brought together prominent figures in education and governance, including Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, heads of tertiary institutions, student leaders, and traditional authorities such as the new Juabenmanhene, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, and the Juabenmanhemaa, Nana Juaben Serwaa III.

The “No Fees Stress” policy took effect this academic year and covers admission-related fees for first-year students in public universities, colleges of education, technical universities, and nursing training institutions. With fees ranging from GH¢1,362 in some colleges to as high as GH¢8,000 in universities, the policy arrives as a lifeline for many families struggling to keep their children in school.

"Behind each number is a name, a face, a dream deferred," President Mahama remarked, underscoring the human cost of financial barriers.

"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.

In addition to eliminating academic fees for first-year students, the policy includes the rollout of a revamped Student Loan Plus scheme for continuing students, as well as full financial coverage for persons with disabilities. Students enrolled in fee-paying programmes are also eligible for partial 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,” President Mahama said, citing examples from Germany, Norway, and Finland where education has fueled social and economic transformation.

He urged all stakeholders, including tertiary institutions and private sector partners, to actively support the policy’s implementation and reach.

"To our students, this opportunity is yours to seize. Focus, excel, and commit yourselves to serving Ghana," he charged.

The initiative is rooted in Article 38(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates equal access to higher education. Mahama reiterated his vision of a nation where talent, not wealth, determines opportunity.

"We are building a Ghana where opportunity is not inherited but created," he declared.

At the event, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) would double its allocation to the Student Loan Trust Fund from GH¢70 million to GH¢140 million in the next fiscal year to strengthen the programme's sustainability.

The impact of the initiative is already being felt. According to Dr. Saajida Shiraz, CEO of the Students Loan Trust Fund, over 124,000 first-year students have submitted applications for support under the new policy. Out of 148,429 who accessed the application portal, 124,338 successfully completed the process. So far, 49,956 applicants have been validated for reimbursement, with more approvals expected in the coming weeks.

Dr. Shiraz also confirmed that enrolment data for 135,255 students has been submitted by institutions and that the rollout is being coordinated in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, Vice-Chancellors Ghana, and other stakeholders.

She further announced the upcoming launch of the Student Loan Plus programme, set to begin in the 2025/2026 academic year, which will offer expanded support for continuing students.

With the “No Fees Stress” policy now in motion, the government is optimistic about increasing tertiary enrolment nationwide, marking a crucial step toward equitable, inclusive, and future-oriented education reform in Ghana.