• President Mahama introduces free tuition fees for all first-year students in public universities.

• Ghana’s university enrollment rates remain low due to high tuition costs and recent fee hikes.

• Universities struggle with funding, impacting infrastructure, research, and program growth.

Ghana’s President John Mahama launched the “No Fees Stress” policy to make higher education accessible to all Ghanaians. The Ghana News Agency reports that the initiative aims to remove financial barriers by waiving tuition fees for first-year students at public tertiary institutions nationwide. 

This move forms part of Mahama’s 120-day economic recovery plan unveiled during his election campaign. He said, “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.”

According to UNESCO, Ghana’s gross enrollment rate in higher education stood at 20% for men and 18% for women in 2020. Tuition fees remain a major obstacle for many students seeking university education.

In 2023, public universities in Ghana raised tuition fees by 40% to 90% in some cases due to economic challenges. The 2023 Finance Act allows public institutions to increase fees by up to 15% for the 2022/2023 academic year compared to the previous year. However, universities say this increase still falls short of covering their operating costs.

Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, explained that government subsidies, foreign scholarships, and tuition fees together do not provide enough funding. She said this shortfall complicates maintenance of infrastructure, support for research, and expansion of academic programs.

The “No Fees Stress” initiative directly addresses these challenges. Mahama’s plan aims to meet the urgent demands of Ghanaians by strengthening education and easing access through free tuition for first-year students.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum