Ghana’s Education Minister-Designate, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced during his parliamentary vetting that first-year university students who have already paid their admission fees will be refunded under the new ‘No Fees Stress’ policy. This policy, part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s initiative, aims to enhance access to higher education by reducing financial burdens.
The government has allocated GH¢345 million to cover the admission fees of students in general subject areas at public tertiary institutions, although professional programs like medicine are exempt.
Iddrisu stated, “On the authority of President Mahama, and with the approval of the Minister of Finance-designate, Hon. Ato Forson, this provision will be included in the government’s Reset Budget. The funds will ensure that students undertaking courses in the general subject areas have their admission fees refunded.” The funds are set to be directly channeled to the universities to facilitate swift refunds to the students.
Social media has been abuzz with positive reactions to this announcement, with many netizens expressing relief and optimism about the policy’s implementation. Comments like “The system is working!” and “Finally, some good news for students” have been trending across platforms.
This initiative aligns with President Mahama’s commitment to making education more equitable and inclusive. The policy not only fulfills a campaign promise from the NDC’s manifesto but also sets the stage for potential future expansions, aiming to continually alleviate the financial strain on students and their families.
Watch the full announcement in the video below:
Everyone level 100 student who has paid for the fees will be refunded. – Hon Haruna Iddrisu pic.twitter.com/xLgFrjyCBv
— With All Due Respect (@cdzas) January 20, 2025