EDUCATION

No more direct refund for 1st-year university students under “No-Fee Stress” policy

The government has announced a new decision regarding the implementation of its no-fee stress policy, stating that first-year university students who are already enrolled will no longer receive direct refunds as earlier promised.

During the election campaign, then-presidential candidate for the NDC, John Mahama, pledged to absorb fees for all Level 100 students within the first 120 days of assuming office.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu reaffirmed this commitment during his vetting, stating that the government would ensure refunds were issued to students who had already paid their fees for the 2025 academic year.

“We intend to provide that money to the affected universities, at least to make refunds to all those who have already paid those fees,” he said.

However, despite the allocation of GHS499.8 million for the policy’s implementation, the government has now ruled out issuing direct refunds for this academic year.

Speaking on JoyNews’ NewsNight, Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak explained that instead of receiving cash reimbursements, students’ accounts would be credited toward their second-year fees.

“The same students are going to be continuing. Rather than the physical reimbursement, going forward, as they go into their second year, what should have come to them to defer their academic fee for the first year will become a credit, which will then mean that as they go to second year, they wouldn’t have to pay because they have already paid for their first year,” Dr. Apaak said.

He emphasized that, for accountability reasons, the funds would be disbursed directly to the universities, not to the students.

“This approach helps us avoid logistical challenges and any potential impropriety,” he added.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button