‘No Fees Stress’ affirms education as a right, not a privilege – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has described the newly launched No Fees Stress policy as a declaration that education is a right owed to every Ghanaian, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

Speaking at the official launch in Koforidua on Friday, Mahama emphasized the role of education in addressing inequalities and realizing the dreams of young people.

“This policy is not about welfare. It is about fairness. It is about restoring dignity to the Ghanaian student. It is about affirming that the right to education is not a privilege for the wealthy, but a shared national inheritance. Education is the great equalizer. It bridges the gap between where a child is born and what that child can become,” President Mahama said.

He continued: “For too long, thousands of young Ghanaians have passed their exams and secured admission to universities, colleges, and training institutions only to drop out or defer because they could not afford upfront fees. That injustice ends today.”

Under the new policy, the government will pay all academic-related fees for first-year students admitted to public tertiary institutions, including colleges of education.

Reflecting on data of tertiary enrollment in the last few years, the president described the trend as worrying. He said thousands of admitted students failed to enroll due to unaffordable fees, adding that available loans were not sufficient to pay the amounts due.

President Mahama said the initiative will also include free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, an expanded Student Loan Plus scheme, and targeted scholarships for underrepresented communities.

The policy’s objective, the president explained, is not only access but restoring fairness in Ghana’s education.

The No Fees Stress policy was a key flagship intervention the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaigned on during last year’s general election.

Meanwhile, first-year students who paid their fees earlier this year, before the program was rolled out, have been reimbursed by the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).