In a significant policy step towards expanding access to higher education, the Minister of Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has officially launched the No-Fee-Stress online portal.
This is set to enable first-year students of Ghana’s public tertiary institutions to register for financial assistance under the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).
The new portal, now live at https://www.nofeesstress.sltf.gov.gh/ and https://www.sltf.gov.gh/, is central to the implementation of the government’s much-anticipated No-Fee-Stress policy.
It is a flagship initiative of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Dramani Mahama, who promised this bold intervention during the 2024 election campaign.
The launch marks the official fulfilment of that campaign promise and affirms the government’s commitment to removing the financial roadblocks that have long deterred thousands of qualified students from pursuing tertiary education.
At the launch event in Accra, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu praised the No-Fee-Stress policy as “a transformative, bold, and visionary initiative” tailored to dismantle the structural barriers that exclude many Ghanaians from attaining higher education.
According to him, the policy represents not just a student support scheme but a strategic national investment in human capital development and Ghana’s long-term socioeconomic competitiveness.
“This policy is about equity, access, and opportunity. No Ghanaian student should be denied access to tertiary education because they cannot afford it.
“With this portal, we are not just creating a digital tool; we are opening doors and expanding the frontiers of opportunity.”
Minister of Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
SLTF’s Assurance
The Students Loan Trust Fund, the implementing agency of the No-Fee-Stress policy, assured prospective beneficiaries of a smooth and user-friendly registration process.
According to the CEO of SLTF, Dr. Saajida Shiraz, the portal has been carefully designed to simplify the application journey and ensure the swift authentication of applicants’ eligibility for government support.
“We are excited to bring this portal online to serve our students. SLTF has always stood by its mandate to provide financial support for students in accredited tertiary institutions. This policy gives us renewed purpose, and we are ready to deliver.”
CEO of SLTF, Dr. Saajida Shiraz
The No-Fee-Stress portal will require students to submit basic personal and academic details, after which their data will be authenticated for eligibility.
Once approved, students will be able to access the financial resources they need to pay their fees and begin or continue their tertiary education without undue financial anxiety.
Beyond simplifying access to loans, the policy repositions student financing in Ghana as a right rather than a privilege.
It underscores the principle that no capable student should be left behind due to economic hardship—an ethos that aligns with global sustainable development goals promoting inclusive and equitable quality education.
In recent years, access to tertiary education in Ghana has been increasingly hampered by rising fees, inadequate scholarship schemes, and a lack of comprehensive state-sponsored support.
According to a 2023 report by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), approximately 38% of qualified senior high school graduates were unable to enrol in tertiary institutions due to financial constraints.
The No-Fee-Stress policy is thus seen as a direct response to this challenge and a potential game-changer in expanding enrollment and retention at the tertiary level.
The policy also complements the Free Senior High School (SHS) program and ensures a logical progression for students who might otherwise be stranded after completing SHS.
The No-Fee-Stress program closes this gap, strengthening the government’s education reforms and the idea of a knowledge-based economy in general.
The No-Fee-Stress policy has the potential to revolutionize the way Ghana finances higher education and usher in a new era of financial inclusion and opportunity for its youth, as it is expected to benefit thousands of first-year students.
For more information, students and guardians can visit any of the Trust Fund’s zonal offices across the country or give the dedicated SLTF Call Center a call at 0302 751 020.
The No-Fee-Stress program may go down as one of the most significant financial interventions in tertiary education during the Fourth Republic, as Ghana strives to create a more inclusive, knowledge-driven future.
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