Full text: Mahama’s speech at launch of No Fees Stress policy
Source: myjoyonline

Ministers of State, Honourable Members of Parliament, Vice-Chancellors and Rectors of our Tertiary Institutions, Development Partners, Leaders of our Student Movements, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, All Protocols Observed, A Moment of Promise and Purpose It gives me immense joy to join you today in Koforidua—a city steeped in learning and leadership—to launch an initiative that speaks directly to the heart of our national aspirations: the right of every Ghanaian child to access tertiary education, regardless of family income, social background, or place of birth. Today, we launch the No Fees Stress Policy, a bold, equity-driven intervention designed to remove financial barriers to entry into public tertiary institutions. Beginning this academic year, the State will cover the academic-related fees of all first-year students admitted into our public universities, colleges of education, technical universities, and nursing training institutions who, in many cases, would otherwise have had to forgo their dreams. This policy is more than a budgetary item. It is a moral, constitutional, and developmental imperative. A Hidden National Emergency Far too many of our young people have worked hard, passed their exams, and earned a place in our tertiary institutions—only to be turned away because their families cannot afford the upfront fees. Let the numbers speak: In the 2022/2023 academic year, over 150,000 students were admitted to public tertiary institutions. Yet, thousands could not take up these admissions due to theinability to pay academic-related fees. Data from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission reveals that many more defer or drop out of their programmes each year for this very reason. A student in a College of Education, for instance, received a monthly allowance of GHS200 in the 2024/2025 academic year—but was expected to pay GHS 1,362 in admission fees. In nursing colleges, the fees were even higher—GHS 2,340, with the same monthly allowance. The annual student loan of GHS 2,550 falls short in covering university academic-related fees, which can rise as high as GHS 8,000. And the tragedy is that they are required to pay these fees when they have not yet had the opportunity to register for the Student Loan Scheme. These are not just statistics. Behind each number is a name, a face, a dream deferred. Education as the Bedrock of Development Tertiary education is not just about getting a certificate. It is the engine that powers a modern society. It creates teachers, doctors, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and public servants. It spurs innovation, deepens civic responsibility, and fosters national identity. According to the World Bank, every additional year of tertiary education increases an individual’s earnings by up to 17% in developing countries. And yet, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, only 18% of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have completed tertiary education. This means that over 80% of our adult population lacks post-secondary qualifications. In a nation striving to build a resilient, knowledge-driven economy, this gap is one we cannot afford to maintain. Key Interventions of the No-Fees Stress Policy Mr. Chairman, the No-Fees Stress Policy has been designed with deliberate inclusivity and scalability. Its key components include: No-Academic-Fees Policy: The Government will cover the academic-related fees for all first-year students admitted to public tertiary institutions. Student Loan Plus Initiative: This is a restructured financing model that provides enhanced support for continuing students, with expanded eligibility and simplified access. Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities: To ensure full inclusion and compliance with our obligations under the Disability Act. Increased Student Loan Amounts: Reflecting the real costs of tertiary education, adjusted annually. Diversified Student Funding Mechanisms: Including targeted scholarships for underrepresented communities and disciplines vital to national development. In addition, students in fee-paying programmes without regular-track equivalents will receive a reimbursement of up to GHS 2,500 for academic fees. This policy is complementary, not substitutionary. It does not replace existing allowances and loans; it lightens the heaviest burden—the cost of entry—that keeps thousands of brilliant students outside our gates of learning. Equity, Not Charity This policy is not about welfare. It is about fairness. It is about restoring dignity to the Ghanaian student. It is about affirming that the right to education is not a privilege for the wealthy, but a shared national inheritance. Education is the great equalizer. It bridges the gap between where a child is born and what that child can become. This policy ensures that geographical location, gender, disability, or socio-economic background will no longer determine who can sit in a university lecture hall. Global Lessons, Local Solutions Across the world, countries are embracing the value of publicly supported tertiary education. In Germany, public universities charge no tuition fees—not even for most international students. Norway, Finland, and Scotland have adopted similar models, recognizing that education is not a cost to be feared, but an investment to be protected. These countries have developed highly skilled populations, reduced youth unemployment, increased social mobility, and enhanced civic engagement. Ghana must not be left behind. We must prioritize our people's intellectual capital as our greatest asset. Partnership for National Transformation Let me use this occasion to call upon all stakeholders: To our students: This opportunity is yours to seize. Focus, excel, and commit yourselves to serving Ghana. To our tertiary institutions: Implement this policy with transparency, compassion, and excellence. Let us make this a model of effective public delivery. To the private sector and our development partners: I invite you to co-invest in this future through endowment funds, bursary schemes, and public-private financing models that extend the reach and sustainability of this initiative. Let us work together to raise a generation of Ghanaians who are confident, skilled, and ready to build a prosperous and united nation. Launch and Final Commitment Mr. Chairman, as we speak, academic user fees have been cleared for an initial 15,000 students under this policy. This is just the beginning. And today, with our students, educators, parents, and development partners, I am pleased to declare the No Fees Stress Policy officially launched. Let it be known across this land that, from today, no Ghanaian child will be denied tertiary education simply because they cannot afford the academic fees. This is the path to a more just society. This is how we build a future where no dream is deferred, and no potential is wasted. Conclusion: A Constitutionally Inspired Mission In launching this initiative, we also fulfil our constitutional mandate under Article 38(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which enjoins the State to provide equal access to university or equivalent education to all Ghanaians. We are building a Ghana where opportunity is not inherited but created. A Ghana where education is not rationed by class or cash, but granted by merit and upheld by the collective will of the Republic. May God bless our youth. May God bless our institutions. And may God bless our homeland, Ghana, and make our nation greater and stronger. Thank you.