✨ Mahama: “No Child Will Be Denied University Education Because of Fees”
President John Dramani Mahama has launched a groundbreaking educational reform called the No Fees Stress Policy, ensuring free academic-related fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions across Ghana.
🎤 “Let it be known,” Mahama declared, “no Ghanaian child will be denied tertiary education simply because they cannot afford academic fees.”
The announcement came during a public ceremony in Koforidua on July 4, 2025, where the President emphasized the government’s constitutional obligation to provide equal access to university and equivalent education for all citizens, as enshrined in Article 38(3) of the 1992 Constitution.
📊 The Numbers Behind the Crisis
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In the 2022/2023 academic year, over 150,000 students were admitted, but thousands couldn’t enroll due to unaffordable fees.
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A College of Education student earning GH¢200 per month was expected to pay GH¢1,362 in admission fees.
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Nursing trainees faced bills of up to GH¢2,340.
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University fees reached as high as GH¢8,000, while student loans were capped at just GH¢2,550 annually.
“These aren’t just numbers,” Mahama stated. “They are names, faces, and dreams deferred.”
🛡️ What the No Fees Stress Policy Offers
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✅ Free academic fees for all new entrants in public universities, nursing colleges, teacher training institutions, and technical schools.
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🔄 A revamped Student Loan Plus scheme for continuing students.
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♿ Free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
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🎯 Targeted scholarships for marginalized regions and essential disciplines (e.g. STEM, education, nursing).
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💸 Loan cap increase and annual reviews to match actual tuition costs.
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💰 Up to GH¢2,500 reimbursement for students in fee-paying programmes with no subsidized alternatives.
Already, 15,000 students have had their academic user fees cleared under the new policy.
📣 Mahama’s Message to the Youth
“Focus, excel, and commit yourselves to serving Ghana,” he urged students. “We are building a Ghana where education is not rationed by class or cash, but granted by merit and upheld by the collective will of the Republic.”
He also called on institutions to implement the policy with transparency, compassion, and excellence.
Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com
