The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says 312,448 first-year tertiary students have benefited from the government’s ‘No Fees Stress’ policy at a total cost of over GHC888 million.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 18, he said the 2024/2025 academic year recorded 152,000 beneficiaries for GHC399 million, while 159,000 students have benefited so far in the 2025/2026 academic year for GHC489 million. The policy was launched successfully in July 2025 and is currently active and operational nationwide.
According to the Minister, the intervention aims to reduce the financial burden on tertiary students and improve access to higher education.
He said the policy is a major transformational social intervention initiative of President John Dramani Mahama to promote and improve access to tertiary education in Ghana by alleviating the financial burden of students and their families through targeted financial support.
“The No Fees Stress policy for the 2024-25 academic year, 152,698 validated first-year students benefited at the cost of GHC399,374,727. For the 2025 academic year, 159,750 students have benefited so far at a cost of GHC489,456,427.
“To date, 312,448 students have been assisted under the ‘No Fees Stress’ at a total cost of GHC888,831,000. This is what we have done to support young people’s desires to access tertiary education. Our policy remains access, relevance and quality,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that 610 students of the Ghana School of Law have received support through the Students’ Loan Trust Fund.
“I’m happy to announce that under this government, we are demystifying legal education. Therefore, students pursuing law and professional law can now apply for their student loans,” he said.
For pre-tertiary education for persons with disabilities, 2025-2026 academic year, the minister said 1,530 persons with disability received full fee and residential coverage at a total amount of GHC9,837,000.
The Minister for Education added that there are no outstanding financial obligations under the No Fees Stress policy.
Responding to questions in Parliament, the Education Minister stated that the Finance Minister, Dr Ato Forson, has released adequate funds to support the implementation of the programme
