The Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Dr Saajida Shiraz, has strongly defended the government’s newly launched No Fees Stress initiative, stating that Ghanaian students understand the weight of responsibility that comes with the financial support provided to them.
Speaking on GHOne TV’s State of Affairs programme on Monday, July 7, 2025, Dr Shiraz dismissed concerns that students might misuse the funds.
“I don’t think the students are going to use the money to have fun,” she told host Joshua Kodjo Mensah. “They know the weight of responsibility on them as tertiary students. It may seem like free money, but there are conditions attached.”
Dr Shiraz explained that the policy originated from the NDC’s 2024 manifesto and was rolled out after extensive stakeholder consultations and institutional coordination.
Key features of the policy include the creation of a dedicated online portal for student registration, full coverage of academic-related costs such as admission and examination fees, and the establishment of technical committees involving universities, civil society groups, and regulatory bodies to ensure smooth implementation.
“We are not covering SRC dues. We think the students can handle that,” Dr Shiraz clarified, reinforcing that the initiative focuses on core academic expenses.
READ: No Ghanaian child will be denied tertiary education – Mahama
The No Fees Stress policy, officially launched by President John Dramani Mahama in Koforidua on 4th July, covers academic-related fees for all first-year students admitted into public universities, technical universities, nursing training colleges, and colleges of education.
During the launch, the President described the policy as a “moral, constitutional, and developmental imperative”, noting that too many students in Ghana are forced to defer or drop out due to high fees. In the 2022/2023 academic year alone, over 150,000 students were admitted to public tertiary institutions, but many could not take up their places.
Dr Shiraz emphasised that the government was not offering handouts but making a “deliberate investment in equity and inclusion”.
“Government is showing that it trusts that we are going to take advantage of this opportunity and make good use of it,” she said.
READ: SLTF has ended era of unpaid loans – CEO Dr. Shiraz
To complement the fee waiver, President Mahama also announced additional interventions, including:
• The Student Loan Plus initiative, offering expanded support and simplified access for continuing students;
• Free tertiary education for persons with disabilities;
• Increased student loan amounts to reflect the true cost of tertiary education; and
• Special scholarships for students from underrepresented regions and sectors critical to national development.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
