Education Minister proposes annual committee to review university fees

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has proposed an annual committee to review university fees, aiming to replace ad-hoc increases with structured dialogue involving institutions, students, and government.

The proposal was outlined during a meeting with vice chancellors at the Ministry of Education, where discussions focused on fees, pensions, utilities, and long-term sustainability of tertiary institutions.

Mr Iddrisu said a standing mechanism would reduce tension around fee adjustments and improve predictability for students and university managers.

“The other matter that I would like us to discuss today is to see whether we can have a committee which will annually meet to discuss and review your fees,” the minister said.

He suggested the body could be chaired by a deputy minister and include representatives of university management, the tertiary education directorate, and students.

According to him, student representation could come from national and campus bodies.

“We should have your representative, including a representative of the students, whether at the level of NUGS or SRC, so that we can dialogue on some compelling and necessary adjustment if it’s required,” he noted.

Mr Iddrisu acknowledged the sensitivity around fee changes but argued that a transparent process would help manage expectations.

“I’m sure in Ghana it’s difficult to talk about downward review. It will always be about an upward adjustment,” he said, adding that any increases should be moderated by economic realities. “Maybe to see what role the rate of inflation can play, so that adjustments stay within the limits of inflation over the past period.”

Beyond fees, the minister raised concerns about pension security for tertiary staff and the need for stronger regulation.

“We need to take a collective decision on what role the National Pensions Regulatory Authority can play, and what role we can, by legislation, improve standards to safeguard post-income security and retirement,” he said.

He also flagged the growing burden of utilities on campuses, describing water and electricity costs as a shared challenge for universities and government.

“That is a major, major problem for you and for government,” Mr Iddrisu stated, indicating the need for a clear roadmap to manage the expenses.