President John Mahama has revealed that over 150,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions will have their academic fees completely covered by the state under government’s bold No-Academic-Fee policy

Delivering a national address to mark his first 120 days in office, he said, “The ‘No-Academic-Fee’ policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions was a key promise to ease the burden on families and expand access to higher education. My government has taken concrete steps to implement this.”

He disclosed that a staggering GH¢452,940,012.00 has been allocated to cover the academic facility user fees for 156,294 first-year students across the country for the 2025 academic year.

The funds, according to the President, are being directly disbursed through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND).

“GETFUND has also been instructed to pay the fees directly to the tertiary institutions, ensuring timely disbursement,” Mahama said, noting that this prevents delays and bureaucracy that typically frustrate students and school administrators alike.

To streamline access, the government has developed the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ application portal, which is now live.

“First-year students can register and authenticate their eligibility for this government funding through the portal,” Mahama added.

The president also outlined expanded social protection efforts, announcing two additional policies—Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as MahamaCares.

On the education initiative for PWDs, he said, “We committed to introducing vital social interventions: Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities. Budget allocation for beneficiary students has been captured in the 2025 Budget Statement.”

He added that data from the Education Ministry has been provided to GETFUND for planning disbursements in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Touching on MahamaCares, the President described it as “a bold national policy that provides direct financial support to Ghanaians suffering from chronic diseases not fully covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).”

He also shared a personal gesture of commitment, “On April 29, I officially launched the Fund at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where I pledged six months of my salary as my contribution. Vice President Naana Jane also pledged four months of her salary.”

President Mahama said he has directed all government appointees to contribute the equivalent of one month’s salary and encouraged the public to support the cause via a dedicated shortcode: *“255# on all mobile networks.”

The MahamaCares Bill is ready and set to be presented to Cabinet, after which it will be forwarded to Parliament.

“We are united in this mission to touch lives and bring health, healing, hope, and joy,” the President concluded.