Over 120,000 No Fees Stress Policy Beneficiary Students Recorded

More than 120,000 first-year students across public tertiary institutions in Ghana have had their academic fees reimbursed under the government’s flagship “No Fees Stress” initiative. A programme designed to ease the financial burden of higher education and promote inclusivity.

The intervention is being implemented by the Students’ Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), which confirmed the significant milestone in an update to the media. According to Mr. Obeng Agyenim Boateng, Director of Corporate Communications at the SLTF, the reimbursement exercise is a major step towards reducing financial inequalities in the education sector.

“The Student Loan Trust Fund, as we speak, has been able to reimburse academic user fees to 120,000 students across the country,” Mr. Boateng disclosed.

While acknowledging the progress, he admitted that some students experienced delays due to errors in the documentation they submitted. These mismatches, he explained, made it difficult for the SLTF to process payments on time. “In every system, when we are dealing with such issues and numbers, there will be challenges. One has to do with the mismatch of information that was presented to us by students. So that became a challenge when it came to paying such students,” he said.

The “No Fees Stress” policy, launched on July 4, 2025, was a key campaign promise made by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 elections. The President pledged to scrap academic user fees for all first-year students in public tertiary schools within the first 120 days of his administration. The initiative is being hailed as a bold move to expand access to higher education, particularly for students from low-income households.

READ: Dr. Apaak encourages eligible students to register for ‘No Fees Stress’ ahead of July 31 deadline

Education policy analysts have described the programme as a game-changer that will not only relieve families of financial pressure but also encourage more students to pursue higher learning without the fear of dropping out due to cost barriers.

The SLTF has assured students and parents that it is working to resolve all outstanding discrepancies and ensure every eligible beneficiary receives their reimbursement promptly. The Fund further urged students to cross-check their details carefully in future submissions to avoid unnecessary delays.