The government has announced a new decision concerning the enactment of its no-fee stress policy, highlighting that first-year university students who are already in school are no longer going to will get direct refunds as promised earlier.

When the past election campaign was ongoing, then presidential candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, pledged to take up fees for all students at the Level 100 within the first 120 days when he is in office.

Haruna Iddrisu the Education Minister strengthen this dedication during his vetting, mentioning that the government would make sure refunds were furnished to students who had already paid for the 2025 academic year.

He said they had in view to provide that resource to the affected universities, if nothing less to make repayments to all those who have already paid those for 2025 academic year.

However, in spite of the proportion of GHS499.8 million for the policy’s enactment, the government has now cancelled paying direct refunds for this academic year. Speaking on Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak while speaking on Joy News, made it clear that instead of receiving cash compensate, the account of students’ will be credited towards their second-year fees.

He also said, the same students are going to be continuing. Rather than the physical compensation, 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 highlighted that, for answerability reasons, the funds would be expended directly to the universities, not the students. He also added saying that, this will help us to prevent operational challenges and any likely corruption.

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