In a very paramount move to ease the burden on families and expand access to higher education, President John Mahama has announced that his government will cover the academic fees of over 156,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
Delivering a national address to mark his first 120 days in office, President Mahama revealed that a staggering GH¢452,940,012.00 has been allocated to support the “No-Academic-Fee” policy.
“This policy 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 Mahama stated.
The funds are being disbursed directly through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), ensuring timely payment and preventing delays that typically frustrate students and administrators.
To facilitate access, the government has developed the “No-Fees-Stress” application portal, where first-year students can register and authenticate their eligibility for the funding.
“GETFUND has also been instructed to pay the fees directly to the tertiary institutions, ensuring timely disbursement,” President Mahama added.
Beyond this initiative, President Mahama outlined expanded social protection efforts, including the introduction of Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as MahamaCares.
“We committed to introducing vital social interventions: Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities. Budget allocation for beneficiary students has been captured in the 2025 Budget Statement,” he said.
The MahamaCares initiative aims to provide direct financial support to Ghanaians suffering from chronic diseases not fully covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
President Mahama demonstrated his commitment to this cause by pledging six months of his salary to the fund, while Vice President Naana Jane pledged four months of hers.
“We are united in this mission to touch lives and bring health, healing, hope, and joy,” the President concluded, encouraging the public to support the cause via a dedicated shortcode.
