The Minister-Designate for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that approximately GH₵345 million will be required to implement the government’s proposed free tuition policy for first-year tertiary students.
Speaking during his vetting by the Appointments Committee in Parliament on January 20, 2025, Haruna Iddrisu emphasized the policy’s potential to make tertiary education more accessible to a large number of students nationwide.
“The country will require about GH₵345 million for the population of students who enter tertiary institutions, that is what the state will be required to do. We intend to provide that money to the affected universities, at least, to make refunds to those who have already paid fees,” he stated.
The initiative will also include provisions for reimbursing students who have already paid their tuition fees, ensuring fairness in the policy’s implementation.
Haruna Iddrisu further highlighted the flexibility of the new policy, stating, “The beauty of this is that parents who are willing to pay can do so under this policy that has been introduced by the NDC.”
This policy was a key pledge made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during their 2024 campaign, aiming to ease the financial burden on students and their families while promoting greater access to higher education.