Hot SourceMore than 150,000 Ghanaian students have already accessed the portal for the newly launched “No Fee Stress” policy, with 34,500 validated and 15,000 students receiving payments as of yesterday. These figures reflect the deep, urgent need among young people for financial relief to continue their education—a need that President John Dramani Mahama says can no longer be ignored.
The policy, officially launched in Koforidua on Friday (4 July), aims to eliminate the upfront academic fees that have stood as a major barrier to tertiary education for thousands of Ghanaian families.
“These are not just statistics; behind each number is a face and a dream deferred,” President Mahama stated. “The tragedy is that students are required to pay these fees before they even have the opportunity to register for loans. This policy is not about welfare; it is about fairness and dignity.”
Speaking at the launch, President John Mahama described the policy as a bold and equity-driven intervention designed to provide every Ghanaian child with an equal opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of family income or background.
“We have free compulsory universal basic education and a free SHS programme, so most parents do not pay anything for their children’s education until they finish senior high school,” he said. “Then suddenly they are hit with the shock of having to cough up significant amounts to send their children to tertiary institutions. We want to give students the chance to enter university or college without stress and to apply for support later.”
Under the No Fee Stress Policy, the government will fully cover academic-related fees for all first-year students in public universities, technical universities, colleges of education, and nursing training institutions. The goal is to allow students to enrol stress-free and later register for the Student Loan Trust Fund to support subsequent years.
The policy is part of a wider, inclusive package:
- Student Loan Plus Initiative: A restructured financing model that expands support for continuing students, with funding for the student loan scheme set to double next year.
- Free tertiary education for persons with disabilities: from first year through to completion.
- Support for fee-paying programmes: Up to GHC2,500 provided for students in fee-paying programmes without regular track alternatives.
- Diversified funding options: Including targeted scholarships for underrepresented communities and critical national disciplines.
The president also pointed out that although Ghana has made significant progress with free compulsory universal basic education and free SHS, many families still face a harsh financial shock when their children reach tertiary level.
In the 2022–2023 academic year alone, over 150,000 students were admitted to public tertiary institutions, yet many could not take up their places because they could not afford the fees. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, only 18% of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have completed tertiary education—leaving more than 80% without post-secondary qualifications.
“Education is the grand equaliser,” Mahama said. “It bridges the gap between where a child is born and what they can become. With this policy, no longer will geographical location, gender, disability, or family income determine who gets to sit in a university lecture hall.”
He drew inspiration from countries such as Germany, Norway, Finland, and Scotland, where free or heavily subsidised tertiary education is seen not as a cost but as an investment in the nation’s future.
President Mahama called on tertiary institutions to implement the policy with transparency and compassion and urged students to seize the opportunity with focus and commitment to serve Ghana. He further appealed to the private sector and development partners to support the initiative through scholarships and endowment funds.
“Let us work together to raise a generation of Ghanaians who are confident, skilled, and ready to build a prosperous and united nation,” he said.
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