President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the “No Fees Stress” policy in Koforidua, marking a pivotal moment in the government’s drive to improve access to tertiary education.

The initiative waives academic user fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions across the country.

It fulfils a key campaign promise from Mahama during the 2024 elections, and aligns with his broader “Reset Ghana” agenda aimed at alleviating financial pressure on vulnerable families and empowering the younger generation.

The policy has already seen substantial uptake: data from the Students Loan Trust Fund reveals that nearly 130,000 students had registered online by mid-June, with over 100,000 completing the application process.

President Mahama, in his address, stated that the idea to establish the policy was inspired by the stories of brilliant but needy students he encountered before becoming president.

He noted that such situations are common across the country, saying, "These are not isolated stories; these are real stories of people." This, he explained, underscores the need to introduce the No Fees Stress policy to enable other vulnerable Ghanaians to access tertiary education.

Additionally, at least 19,5,000 students have received fee reimbursements, according to Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu. The SLTF also confirmed that 19,703 students received second-semester loans as of 1 July.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of SLTF, Dr. Saajida Shiraz, added that her office recently disbursed second-semester loans to 19,703 students across 135 public and private institutions.

Read also: Over 19,700 students receive second semester loans – Dr Saajida Shiraz

On his part, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, stated that the policy has been extended to include students living with physical challenges, and that the government is working swiftly to disburse funds to beneficiaries in this category.

He added that the GETFund "will double its allocation to the Students Loan Trust Fund from GH¢70 million to GH¢150 million to support students who may wish to access it further."