Haruna Iddrisu announces GH‵917m for No-Fees-Stress Policy

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government has allocated GH‵917 million from the Consolidated Fund to support the No-Fees-Stress Policy. This funding is intended to assist 321,807 students across the country, alleviating the financial burden often associated with entering tertiary institutions. The initiative is a core component of President John Mahama’s educational agenda, which prioritizes making higher education accessible to all eligible Ghanaians regardless of their economic background.

To ensure the policy's effectiveness, the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) is providing essential bridge financing for first-year students at public and technical universities. This mechanism allows the SLTF to pay required fee deposits directly to the institutions once an eligible student applies. This intervention specifically targets the admission confirmation stage, ensuring that financial constraints do not cause students to lose their placements before they can secure long-term funding.

Students can apply for this immediate financial support through the dedicated No-Fees-Stress Portal. While the Ministry of Education has acknowledged challenges regarding the timely release of budget allocations, Minister Iddrisu emphasized the government's commitment to the program. The policy is expected to evolve, with future plans already in place to include specific support for law students and expanded funding for medical education.

Launched by President John Mahama in July 2025, the No-Fees-Stress Policy represents a significant shift in how the state supports higher education. By utilizing the Consolidated Fund to back the SLTF's operations, the government aims to create a sustainable financial safety net. This move is expected to increase enrollment rates and reduce the dropout rate among first-year students who previously struggled with the upfront costs of university admission.