The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to issue a firm instruction to all public universities to immediately stop any unauthorised increases in tuition fees.
The directive comes after reports emerged that some institutions had arbitrarily raised their fees following the introduction of the government’s “No Fees Stress Policy.” The policy, launched earlier this year, provides free tertiary education to first-year students and persons with disabilities as part of efforts to make higher education more accessible.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Monday, November 3, 2025, Hon. Iddrisu expressed disappointment that certain universities were taking advantage of the new policy to impose unjustified fee hikes.
“Believe me, my most impactful launch as a minister was when the No Fees Stress Policy was launched; I had a good sleep because this was an impactful social intervention of the President,” he stated.
The Minister cautioned that the government would not tolerate any institution exploiting the initiative for financial gain.
“Many of you MPs here know how much you spend on paying school fees when the period comes. But this is to send a caution, GTEC is here. I have seen some schools increasing their fees because the government said it is absorbing them. We will not accept that. Make sure you issue instructions to schools not to take advantage of this policy,” he warned.
Mr. Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting equitable access to tertiary education, urging all universities to align with national efforts aimed at reducing the financial burden on students and their families.
In a related development, the Minister revealed that the Ministry of Education is currently reviewing the policy that mandates the closure of private universities that fail to obtain a presidential charter within ten years of establishment.
He noted that the review follows numerous appeals from private universities requesting more time to adequately prepare for full autonomy.
“We have received several petitions from private institutions that genuinely need more time to meet the requirements for a presidential charter. The review process will ensure fairness while maintaining quality standards in higher education,” he added.
The Education Ministry’s recent actions highlight its ongoing commitment to regulating the tertiary sector while ensuring that no student is unfairly disadvantaged under the government’s new educational support initiatives.