Minister-Designate for Education Haruna Iddrisu has announced plans to refund admission fees for first-year tertiary students as part of the government’s free tuition policy.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025, he revealed that ₵345 million would be required to implement the initiative.
“The country will require about ₵345 million for the students entering tertiary institutions. We intend to provide this money to the affected universities, at least to offer refunds to those who have already paid their fees,” he said.
The policy, a key campaign promise by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2024, aims to ensure equitable access to higher education across the nation.
Haruna Iddrisu emphasized that the policy would provide flexibility for parents while reducing the financial burden on families. Parents who wish to pay fees will still have the option to do so.
He assured the committee that the funds would be directly channeled to universities to ensure a fair and seamless rollout of the program.
“The beauty of this policy is that parents who wish to pay can do so, under the framework introduced by the NDC,” he added. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for all Ghanaians.
