Ghana’s government spent GHS 888.8 million on its No Academic Fees Policy over two academic years. This policy benefited 312,448 students during that period.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu made this disclosure to Parliament. The policy aims to reduce the financial burden on students. It also supports access to higher education across Ghana.
This spending highlights a major government investment in human capital development. It fits within broader efforts to make education more accessible for Ghanaian youth. Such social interventions are crucial for long-term economic growth and poverty reduction.
Mr. Iddrisu stated that 152,698 students benefited at a cost of GHS 399.3 million in the 2024/2025 academic year. The 2025/2026 academic year saw 159,750 students benefit at a cost of GHS 489.4 million. He also noted that 1,530 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) received full fees and residential support under a related initiative, costing GHS 9.8 million.
The Minister explained that the policy is actively moving towards a direct-to-institution disbursement model. This new approach aims to strengthen accountability and streamline financial deliveries. Adequate funding has been released for the policy by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson.
Mr. Iddrisu confirmed there is no outstanding payment for the 'No Fee Stress' policy for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. This assurance provides stability for both students and educational institutions. The Student Loan Trust Fund is executing the policy, with authentication processes in place.
The continued investment in education through such policies is expected to boost enrollment rates. It could also improve the overall quality of Ghana's workforce. The shift to direct-to-institution disbursement should enhance financial transparency and efficiency. This will be an important development to monitor for its impact on policy effectiveness.
However, Mr. Iddrisu also highlighted an issue with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) budget. He noted that allocating 42 percent of GETFund resources to the School Feeding Programme under the Free SHS policy has worsened the country's educational infrastructure deficit. He proposed reallocating GETFund resources to focus on foundational learning, such as literacy and numeracy. This suggests a potential policy shift in funding priorities for education infrastructure. Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, supported redirecting GETFund resources back to their core mandate. She argued that the School Feeding Programme should find alternative funding sources.
These discussions signal potential changes in how Ghana funds its educational initiatives. Policymakers will likely debate resource allocation further in upcoming parliamentary sessions. The outcome could significantly affect both tertiary education and foundational learning across the country. Future budgets will reveal the government's priorities for these critical sectors.