1st-year university students will be refunded admission fees – MoE

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu following the free tertiary admission policy introduced by President John Dramani Mahama says first-year tertiary students who have already paid their admission fees will get a refund.

During his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, January 20, 2025, he said the government will require GH₵345 million to implement a free tuition policy for first-year university students.

He said the Minister of Finance-designate, Dr Ato Forson if approved, will provide an amount of GHC345 million to cater for the refund of fees.

“We know that some students have paid their admission fees, we will refund it to them. The country will require about GH₵345 million to implement a free tuition policy for first-year university students intended to make tertiary education more accessible to students across the country,” he stated.

The Sector Minister in Charge of Education explained that the free admission fees policy initiative is part of a broader plan to ensure financial support for prospective tertiary students.

“We intend to provide that money to the affected universities, at least one to make a refund to all those who have already paid those fees,” he told the Parliament Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025.

The Education Minister emphasized that this move aligns with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party’s promise to ease the financial burden on students and their families.

Asked by Minority Leader and Ranking Member of the Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin if the No Academic Fees policy covers all level 100 university students, Haruna Iddrisu said no adding that students studying medicine will be excluded.

“On the authority of President Mahama, I am sure the Minister of Finance, if approved, will present the Reset Budget of the government. It will include some provision of GHC345 million for admission fees for students studying in normal areas, not areas like Medicine,” he stated.

When asked to provide clarity on whether tuition fees will also be catered for, the Substantive Education Minister said, “Tuition is already free in all public universities in Ghana, so we are referring to admission fees.”

On whether the phrase ‘public universities’ includes Colleges of Education as well as Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges, Mr Iddrisu said, “I am not here to use public universities and tertiary education interchangeably, I said admission fees, thank you.”