John Dramani Mahama is the President of Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the No Fees Stress Policy, a government initiative aimed at removing financial barriers to tertiary education by covering academic-related fees for all first-year students entering public institutions.

Speaking at the launch in Koforidua on Friday, July 4, 2025, the president described the move as a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to higher education for every Ghanaian student.

“This policy is not about welfare; it is about fairness. It is about restoring dignity to the Ghanaian student. Let it be known across this land that from today, no Ghanaian child will be denied entry into tertiary education simply because they cannot afford academic fees,” he stated.

The initiative covers public universities, technical universities, teacher training colleges, and nursing training institutions and begins with the 2025 academic year. It complements other financial aid schemes, including the Student Loan Trust Fund and monthly trainee allowances.

President Mahama noted that over 150,000 students have accessed the policy’s application portal so far, with 15,000 already receiving their payments.

“So far, 50,000 students have accessed the portal. For those of you who have not yet done so, you better start now. Out of this number, 34,500 have been validated and are awaiting payment, and as of yesterday, 15,000 students have already received payment alerts,” he added.

The No Fees Stress Policy is aimed at easing the financial burden of tertiary education and improving access for students from diverse backgrounds.

JKB/MA

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