Mahama launches Out ‘No Fees Stress’ Policy to Ease Tertiary Education Burden

Mahama launches Out ‘No Fees Stress’ Policy to Ease Tertiary Education Burden

President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the “No Fees Stress” initiative in Koforidua, a flagship policy designed to remove academic user fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions. 

The policy is a core part of Mahama’s broader “Reset Ghana” agenda and is aimed at reducing the financial strain on families while promoting greater access to higher education.

The launch marks the fulfillment of a major campaign pledge made during the 2024 elections. Speaking at the event, President Mahama noted that the initiative was borne out of personal encounters with gifted but financially disadvantaged students prior to his presidency. “These are not isolated stories. These are real situations faced by many across the country,” he emphasized.

The response to the policy has been strong, with the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) reporting that nearly 130,000 students had registered online by mid-June, and over 100,000 successfully completed the application process. Furthermore, Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that fee reimbursements had already been made to over 19,500 beneficiaries.

SLTF’s Acting CEO, Dr. Saajida Shiraz, revealed that second-semester loans were disbursed to 19,703 students from 135 public and private institutions as of July 1. She expressed her office’s commitment to sustaining and expanding the support to all qualified applicants.

Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, also disclosed that the programme has been extended to cover students with physical disabilities. He added that government funding through the GETFund would be significantly increased, from GH¢70 million to GH¢150 million, to ensure sustainability of the policy and further support students who seek financial assistance through the SLTF.

President Mahama urged all stakeholders to implement the “No Fees Stress” policy transparently and responsibly, emphasizing that its success is critical to securing educational equity and national development.




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