President John Dramani Mahama has launched a new policy ‘No- Fees Stress’ intervention aimed at removing financial obstacles that prevent many Ghanaian students from accessing tertiary education.
The policy, launched on Friday at SDA College of Education in Koforidua, is designed to ease the financial burden on students, particularly those from underrepresented communities and disadvantaged backgrounds, while promoting disciplines vital for Ghana’s national development.
Addressing the gathering, President Mahama outlined several components of the ‘No Fees Stress’ policy.
According to President Mahama the government will fully absorb academic-related fees for all first-year students admitted to public tertiary institutions — including universities, technical universities, colleges of education, and nursing training institutions.
He said, student loan scheme has been restructured to provide enhanced support for continuing students, with expanded eligibility and simplified access to loans.
President Mahama disclosed that the allocation for the Student Loan Trust will be doubled next year to meet growing demands.
The loan amounts will be reviewed and increased to reflect the actual cost of tertiary education, with adjustments to be made annually in line with inflation.
He said under the policy and in line with Ghana’s Disability Act, all persons with disabilities will enjoy free tertiary education from admission to graduation.
Students in fee-paying programs without regular track equivalents will receive a government reimbursement of up to GHS 2,500 for academic-related fees.
President Mahama emphasized that the initiative seeks to address the widening access gap in tertiary education, where many qualified students are unable to pursue higher education due to financial limitations.
According to him, data from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) indicates that in the 2022/2023 academic year, while over 150,000 students were admitted into public tertiary institutions, thousands failed to enroll because they could not afford to pay the required fees.
“The tragedy is that these fees are demanded even before students get the chance to register for student loans,” Mahama lamented.
He further noted that while the country has made progress through Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, parents are suddenly confronted with hefty financial demands once their wards progress to tertiary institutions.
A Moral and Constitutional Duty
President Mahama described the ‘No Fees Stress’ initiative as not merely a budgetary provision, but a moral, constitutional, and developmental responsibility.
He cited World Bank data indicating that every additional year of tertiary education increases an individual’s earning potential by up to 17% in developing countries.
Yet, according to Ghana’s 2021 Population and Housing Census, only 18% of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have completed tertiary education — a situation he said undermines efforts to build a resilient, knowledge-driven economy.
Restoring Hope for Students
President Mahama called on stakeholders in the education sector to support the successful implementation of the policy, stressing that education remains the greatest equalizer in bridging socioeconomic disparities.
“This policy lightens the heaviest burden — the cost of entry — that has kept thousands of brilliant young people outside the gates of opportunity,” he concluded.
The ‘No Fees Stress’ policy takes effect from the 2024/2025 academic year.
