The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has announced a major intervention aimed at cushioning first-year students in public tertiary institutions from the burden of paying academic user fees, beginning from the 2024/2025 academic year.
A press release issued by the SLTF confirmed that the reimbursement of academic user fees will commence in June.
The scheme is open to all first-year students pursuing accredited diploma or degree programs in Ghana’s public tertiary institutions.
“These reimbursements, starting next month, are in conformity with policy directives from the Ministry of Education and underline the John Dramani Mahama government’s commitment to investing in Ghana’s human capital and ensuring a brighter future for its youth.”
Dr. Saajida Shiraz, Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF
According to the statement signed by Dr. Saajida Shiraz, Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, this initiative is designed to ease the financial stress that often accompanies the transition to tertiary education, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The implementation of the No-Fees-Stress policy is seen as a fulfilment of one of the flagship promises made by President John Dramani Mahama in his 120-Day Social Contract with Ghanaians.
The contract specifically pledged the elimination of academic facility user fees for first-year students in public tertiary institutions, in line with the government’s broader commitment to social equity and human capital development.
President Mahama, in a recent address, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the policy, indicating that GH¢452,940,012 has been allocated to cover the academic facility user fees of 156,294 first-year students enrolled in public tertiary institutions for the 2025 academic year.
According to the President, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has been mandated to disburse these funds directly to the respective institutions to ensure prompt and efficient processing.
“The ‘No-Academic-Fee’ policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions was a key promise to ease the burden on families and expand access to higher education. My government has taken concrete steps to implement this.”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama stated that the launch of the No-Fees-Stress application portal was a vital mechanism for identifying and authenticating eligible students.
The SLTF has since urged all eligible first-year students to apply through the official portal — https://nofeesstress.sltf.gov.gh — for the reimbursement process.
Applications submitted through the portal will be verified against admission data received from public tertiary institutions. This validation mechanism, according to SLTF, is essential to ensure transparency, accuracy, and the timely release of funds.
The “No-Fees-Stress” initiative is being lauded by many stakeholders as a strategic intervention that directly aligns with the national agenda of expanding access to quality tertiary education.
Many have long argued that academic facility user fees, though seemingly moderate, often act as a deterrent to access, particularly for students from low-income households.
For many families already battling inflation and economic uncertainty, the cost of tertiary education has become an overwhelming financial burden.
This new policy is thus expected to bring significant relief to thousands of households across the country.
Dr. Shiraz emphasized the importance of prompt applications by eligible students, urging them not to delay in submitting their credentials to benefit from the initiative.
“We urge all first-year students to apply promptly to secure their reimbursement,” she noted.
While the initiative has drawn praise for its intent and execution, some education policy analysts have called for measures to ensure that the reimbursement process remains free from administrative bottlenecks and delays that have historically affected similar interventions.
The establishment of the dedicated application portal and the integration of real-time admission data verification signal a shift towards a more streamlined and digitized approach to educational financing.
As Ghana continues its push to become a knowledge-driven economy, policies such as the No-Fees-Stress initiative underscore the need for inclusive financing strategies that leave no student behind.
The SLTF’s role in administering the policy reflects a renewed emphasis on trust, accountability, and service to the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.
For more information, students and stakeholders were advised to contact the SLTF via email at info@sltf.gov.gh or visit their official website at www.sltf.gov.gh
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