President John Mahama has announced a new education policy that will see academic fees refunded for all first-year tertiary students enrolling in September 2025, a move his administration says is aimed at easing financial pressure on families and promoting equitable access to higher education.
The initiative, unveiled during a stop on the president’s nationwide “Thank You Tour” in Koforidua on Sunday, reflects a broader push by the Mahama government to expand social protections and invest in human capital.
“In September, the new batch of first-year students who will be enrolled, money is ready to be reimbursed for their academic fees,” Mr. Mahama told supporters at Jackson Park, noting that the necessary funding had already been secured. The announcement drew loud approval from the crowd gathered in the Eastern Region town.
The tuition reimbursement falls under the government’s ‘No Fees Stress’ policy — a flagship intervention targeting economic barriers to tertiary education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. The plan was a key campaign promise during Mr. Mahama’s successful 2024 presidential bid.
In a further nod to student welfare, the president also revealed that the government had cleared six months of outstanding allowances owed to students in nursing and teacher training institutions. “We have also paid six months’ arrears of allowances,” he said. “We promise that they will receive their allowances every month.”
Mr. Mahama’s education policies are part of a broader social investment strategy that includes expanding access to public services and reducing inequality — priorities that have gained urgency amid economic pressures facing Ghanaian households.
