SONA 2026: Mahama Expands No-Fees-Stress Initiative to Benefit Over 220,000 First-Year Students

Ferdinand  | Education Ghana | March 1 |  SONA 2026: Mahama Expands No-Fees-Stress Initiative to Benefit Over 220,000 First-Year Students

President John Dramani Mahama announces expansion of the No-Fees-Stress Initiative in SONA 2026, targeting over 220,000 first-year tertiary students across Ghana. Full details on funding, eligibility, and impact.

President has announced a major expansion of the No-Fees-Stress Initiative, projecting that more than 220,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions will benefit in the 2026 academic year.

Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address at Parliament House on Friday, February 27, 2026, the President described the policy as a central pillar of his administration’s Reset Agenda for education and national development.

Over 152,000 Students Already Benefited

According to President Mahama, 152,698 duly validated first-year students in public tertiary institutions benefited from the initiative during the 2025 academic year. With increasing enrolment figures and improved administrative coordination, the government expects the number of beneficiaries to exceed 220,000 in 2026.

The No-Fees-Stress Initiative eliminates the burden of upfront academic-related fees for first-year students admitted into public universities, technical universities, and colleges of education. The intervention is aimed at ensuring that students who gain admission are not denied access due to financial constraints.

Collaboration with Student Loan Trust Fund

The programme is being implemented in partnership with the to strengthen student financing mechanisms and improve sustainability.

In a significant policy expansion, law students are now eligible to access the national student loan scheme. This move broadens financial inclusion and supports professional education pathways that were previously constrained by funding limitations.

Addressing Access and Equity in Higher Education

Education analysts say the removal of admission-related financial barriers could significantly increase transition rates from senior high school to tertiary institutions, particularly among students from low-income households.

President Mahama emphasised that expanding access to tertiary education is essential to equipping Ghana’s youth with the skills required in a modern, technology-driven economy. He noted that education remains pivotal to Ghana’s transformation agenda and long-term economic competitiveness.

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Part of Broader Education Reforms

The expansion of the No-Fees-Stress Initiative forms part of a wider education reform package announced during SONA 2026. Other complementary measures include:

• Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities
• Increased funding for special needs education through the amended GETFund framework
• Construction of new classroom blocks to address infrastructure gaps
• Establishment of new technical universities to boost skills development

Together, these reforms are designed to promote inclusion, strengthen quality assurance, and align education outcomes with national development priorities.

Relief for Parents and Guardians

Beyond students, the initiative is expected to provide relief to parents and guardians who often face tight deadlines to mobilise funds for admission-related payments. Education stakeholders believe the policy could reduce cases of deferred admissions and financial dropouts at the beginning of academic sessions.

While some observers have called for detailed long-term financing plans, government maintains that the initiative is fully captured in the 2026 national budget framework.

Strengthening Human Capital Development

With projected beneficiaries surpassing 220,000 in 2026, the No-Fees-Stress Initiative is positioned to become one of the largest first-year tertiary support programmes in Ghana’s history.

The announcement reinforces the government’s commitment to expanding higher education access, reducing inequality, and investing in human capital as a driver of national growth.