• President John Dramani Mahama announced free higher education for persons with disabilities under the “No Fees Stress” initiative.
• The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will finance the policy with an annual budget of 50 million GHS ($4.62 million).
• The initiative could benefit up to two million Ghanaians identified as living with disabilities in the 2021 national census.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, October 24, 2025, officially launched a policy offering free higher education to persons with disabilities, the presidency said in a statement released on Saturday.

The initiative, part of the broader “No Fees Stress” program launched in July, aims to promote social inclusion and equity by removing financial barriers to higher learning. It guarantees equal access to all qualified persons with disabilities admitted to accredited public tertiary institutions across Ghana.

The government will finance the policy through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), a statutory fund supporting public education infrastructure and equipment. Mahama said the fund will manage the initiative transparently and efficiently with an annual allocation of 50 million GHS (approximately $4.62 million).

"Each student supported under this policy becomes an asset to our nation, whose success will strengthen Ghana’s economy and enrich our collective humanity," Mahama said.

The announcement follows the July rollout of “No Fees Stress,” a nationwide plan to make higher education affordable to all Ghanaians. The broader reform seeks to remove financial barriers by waiving tuition fees for all first-year students enrolled in public higher institutions.

Mahama first introduced the initiative during his presidential campaign as part of his “120-Day Economic Revival Plan,” which emphasizes education as a driver of inclusive economic recovery.

According to the president, the free higher education policy for persons with disabilities could benefit nearly two million Ghanaians — the number identified as living with disabilities in the 2021 national census. The government expects the initiative to enhance educational outcomes, reduce inequality, and expand opportunities for underrepresented communities.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum