"Admission fees of first-year public tertiary students to be refunded" - Haruna Iddrisu

Education Minister-designate, Haruna Iddrisu has announced plans to refund admission fees for first-year students enrolled in public tertiary institutions.

The initiative, part of President John Mahama’s broader agenda to make higher education more accessible, was revealed during Mr. Iddrisu's vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday.

According to the Tamale South MP, the government will allocate GH¢345 million to cover the admission fees of students pursuing general subject areas at public tertiary institutions.

However, the refund will not extend to professional programs such as medicine.

“On the authority of President Mahama, and with the approval of the Minister of Finance-designate, Hon. Ato Forson, this provision will be incorporated into the government’s Reset Budget. The funds will ensure that students in general subject areas have their admission fees reimbursed,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.

He assured Parliament that students who have already paid their fees will also benefit from the refund.

“This is an experimental model under President Mahama's leadership. It is designed to evaluate the feasibility of expanding such a program in the future. The policy does not exclude students who are financially capable of paying but aims to ensure equal access for all,” he added.

The initiative fulfills a key promise in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto, reflecting the party's commitment to reducing barriers to higher education, especially for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Observers have lauded the initiative as a progressive step towards bridging the educational gap in Ghana, while others await further details on its implementation and impact.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith