Ghana’s public tertiary campuses erupted in celebration this week following President John Dramani Mahama’s fulfillment of his flagship promise to pay the academic facility user fees for all first-year students, a move hailed as transformative for higher education access nationwide.
The government has allocated a staggering GH¢452,940,012 to cover the academic facility user fees for 156,294 first-year students in public tertiary institutions for the 2025 academic year. The funds are being disbursed directly through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to ensure prompt payment and minimize bureaucratic delays.
Announcing the policy during his national address marking his first 120 days in office, President Mahama stated, “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”12.
The initiative, branded the No-Fees-Stress Policy, allows eligible first-year students to register and authenticate their eligibility via a dedicated online portal. More than 100,000 students have already completed their applications, with the official rollout of the policy taking place on July 4, 20253.
Across campuses, news of the fee payment sparked scenes of joy and relief. Students and parents, many of whom had struggled to raise the necessary funds, expressed gratitude for the government’s intervention. “This is a huge relief for my family. Now I can focus on my studies without worrying about how to pay my fees,” said a first-year student at the University of Ghana.
The policy is designed to eliminate financial barriers that have historically forced many talented young Ghanaians to defer or abandon their academic ambitions. By removing the upfront cost of academic user fees, the government aims to create a more inclusive and equitable higher education landscape.
While the move has been widely celebrated, some opposition voices and education experts have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability and potential strain on tertiary institutions. However, government officials maintain that the policy is fully funded and will be closely monitored to ensure its success.
The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), which manages the reimbursement process, has urged all eligible students to apply promptly to secure their benefits. The government has also clarified that students who have already paid their fees will not receive refunds, but their payments will be credited toward the next academic year.
For now, the mood across Ghana’s universities is one of massive jubilation, as thousands of first-year students begin their academic journeys free from the immediate burden of tuition fees—a milestone many hope will mark the beginning of a new era in Ghanaian education.
