First-year university students in Ghana to enjoy free academic fees under new plan

The announcement was made during a key stop on his ongoing nationwide “Thank You Tour” held at Jackson Park in Koforidua, in Ghana’s Eastern Region, on Sunday, 20th July.

Addressing a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, President Mahama affirmed that the necessary financial resources had already been secured to implement the initiative.

“In September, the new batch of first-year students who will be enrolled, money is ready to be reimbursed for their academic fees,” he declared, drawing loud applause from the audience.

The reimbursement scheme is part of the government’s flagship ‘No Fees, No Stress’ policy, designed to promote equitable access to higher education by removing financial barriers, especially for students from low-income families.

The policy reflects President Mahama’s broader agenda for social protection and human capital development, which was a cornerstone of his successful 2024 presidential campaign.

In his speech, he reiterated the importance of empowering young people through education and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth.

Alongside the tertiary fee refund, President Mahama disclosed that his government had also settled six months of unpaid allowances owed to students in nursing and teacher training institutions.

“We have also paid six months’ arrears of allowances for students at the nursing and teacher training colleges,” he announced. “We promise that they will receive their allowances every month.”

The announcement is expected to bring relief to thousands of students and their families and signals a renewed push by the government to strengthen support for the education sector.