Breaking Barriers to Education: President Mahama Launches ‘No Fees Stress’ Policy for Tertiary Students

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | July 05 |Breaking Barriers to Education: President Mahama Launches ‘No Fees Stress’ Policy for Tertiary Students

President Mahama launches Ghana’s groundbreaking “No Fees Stress” policy to eliminate academic user fees for first-year tertiary students. Learn how this bold initiative is reshaping access to higher education in Ghana.

A New Era for Tertiary Education in Ghana

In a bold move to promote educational equity, President John Dramani Mahama has launched the much-anticipated “No Fees Stress” policy, a government-funded initiative aimed at eliminating financial barriers to tertiary education for all qualified Ghanaian students.

Speaking at the official launch held at Koforidua SDA College of Education in the Eastern Region, President Mahama announced that the state has already cleared academic user fees for 15,000 first-year tertiary students for the 2025/2026 academic year.

“Let it be known across this land that, from today, no Ghanaian child will be denied tertiary education simply because they cannot afford the academic fees,” President Mahama declared.

What Is the “No Fees Stress” Policy?

The No Fees Stress Policy is a flagship intervention under President Mahama’s education and human capital development agenda. It ensures that academic-related fees—such as admission fees, registration charges, and examination costs—are fully covered by the government for first-year students entering public tertiary institutions.

🔍 Key Features:

• Applicable to public universities, technical universities, and colleges of education
• Covers academic user fees only (not residential/boarding)
• Targeted initially at 15,000 students, with plans to scale up
• Supported through collaboration with the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF)

 President Mahama’s Vision for Educational Equity

In his speech, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to bridging the financial gap in higher education:

“This is how we build a future where no dream is deferred, and no potential is wasted.”

He described the initiative as a major step toward a just and inclusive society, where education becomes a right, not a privilege.

🏫 Launch Venue: A Symbol of Reform

The launch was held at Koforidua SDA College of Education, the first institution to pilot the No Fees Stress policy. The choice of venue reflects the government’s ongoing support for teacher education, especially at a time when Ghana is focused on STEM, digital transformation, and TVET.

🌍 Broader Impact & Reactions

📌 Stakeholder Applause:

• SLTF CEO, Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah, confirmed that the Trust Fund is ready to facilitate disbursements for eligible students.
• Education policy experts believe this could increase tertiary enrollment rates and reduce dropout rates, especially among rural and low-income youth.
• Student groups, including the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), have hailed the policy as historic.

🔗 Related Articles on EducationGhana.org

• How to Apply for SLTF Support in 2025
• Koforidua SDA Leads as First Beneficiary of No Fees Stress Policy
• Top 10 Colleges of Education Benefiting from Government Policy Support (2025)

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Prospective students can also check out the Admission Deadlines for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as their Entry Requirements before Applying.

 

 

 

They can also check the institutions’ cut off pointsandHow to Applyto the various Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as the institutions’ Fees Schedulesfor any particular Semester or Year.

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