The No Academic Fees Policy has officially entered its implementation phase as the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) begins disbursing funds to eligible students across public tertiary institutions in Ghana. The payments, which commenced on April 16, 2026, are part of the government’s flagship initiative to ease the financial burden on first-year students for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The announcement confirms that thousands of students have already started benefiting from the policy, which aims to improve access to tertiary education by removing academic fee barriers. The initiative is expected to significantly support students from low-income backgrounds and reduce dropout rates linked to financial challenges.

According to the SLTF, the No Academic Fees policy is being implemented through a structured and phased approach to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accurate disbursement of funds to the right beneficiaries.

Validation and Processing of Student Data

The Fund revealed that a total of 184,489 student records were received from 163 public tertiary institutions nationwide. These records represent admission data for first-year students enrolled in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Out of this number, 161,170 students have successfully completed the validation process, making them eligible for payment under the policy. The validation exercise is a critical step designed to confirm student details and prevent errors in disbursement.

Officials explained that the high validation rate reflects strong collaboration between institutions and students, ensuring that the implementation of the No Academic Fees policy proceeds smoothly.

“The validation process is essential to guarantee that funds are disbursed accurately and transparently,” the Fund indicated.

Students who are yet to validate their information are expected to do so promptly to avoid delays in receiving their benefits.

Dual Disbursement Models Introduced

To facilitate efficient implementation, the SLTF has adopted a hybrid disbursement strategy for the 2025/2026 academic year. This approach combines direct institutional payments with a reimbursement model, depending on the type of institution involved.

Under the direct-to-institutions model, academic fees for students in Colleges of Education, Colleges of Agriculture, and Health Training Institutions are paid directly to their respective institutions. So far, 41,007 students across 137 institutions have benefited from this arrangement.

This model ensures that fees are settled promptly without requiring students to make upfront payments. It also reduces administrative burdens on students and institutions alike.

In addition, the reimbursement model has been applied to students in public universities and public technical universities. Under this system, the Fund has completed payments for the first batch of 11,000 first-year students.The No Academic Fees policy therefore accommodates different institutional structures while maintaining a unified goal of easing financial pressure on students.

Beneficiaries and Ongoing Disbursement Phases

In total, 52,007 students have so far benefited from the policy, combining both the direct payment and reimbursement categories. This marks a significant milestone in the rollout of the initiative.The SLTF has assured stakeholders that disbursements will continue in phases until all eligible students are covered.

Authorities emphasised that the phased approach allows for proper verification and reduces the risk of errors or delays.“The remaining beneficiaries will be paid in subsequent phases,” the Fund stated, reaffirming its commitment to full implementation. The No Academic Fees policy is expected to reach a larger number of students as additional validations are completed and funds are processed.

Commitment to Accessible Tertiary Education

The Students Loan Trust Fund reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no qualified Ghanaian student is denied access to tertiary education due to financial constraints. The policy represents a major step toward achieving equitable access to higher education across the country.

Stakeholders, including educational institutions and students, have been commended for their cooperation in facilitating the rollout of the initiative. Their collaboration has been described as critical to the success of the programme.Saajida Shiraz, Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, signed the official release and reaffirmed the Fund’s dedication to supporting students through sustainable financing solutions.

The No Academic Fees policy is expected to have long-term positive effects on Ghana’s education sector by increasing enrolment, reducing financial stress on families, and strengthening human capital development.As the programme continues, attention will focus on ensuring timely payments, expanding coverage, and maintaining transparency in the disbursement process. The initiative stands as a key intervention in Ghana’s efforts to make tertiary education more accessible and inclusive.