The government has clarified its approach to the “No-Fee Stress” policy for first-year public university students, announcing that those who have already paid their academic fees for the current academic year will not receive cash refunds as previously indicated.

Instead, the government will apply the equivalent amount as credit toward the students' second-year fees.

Speaking on JoyNews' NewsNight, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak explained the revised plan, noting that although direct reimbursements will not be made this year, students will still benefit from the policy through a credit arrangement.

“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 stated.

He added that the credited funds would be channeled directly to the respective universities to ensure transparency and avoid logistical complications.

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

The “No-Fee Stress” initiative was a major campaign promise by then-presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama, who pledged to absorb academic fees for all Level 100 students within the first 120 days of his administration.

This commitment was reaffirmed by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu during his ministerial vetting earlier this year. At the time, he assured the public that measures were being put in place to issue refunds to students who had already settled their fees.

“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 stated.

However, with the latest update, the reimbursement model has now shifted to a credit-based system.

To support the rollout of the “No-Fee Stress” policy, GH¢499.8 million has been allocated under the 2025 national budget, which was presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Tuesday, March 11.

The policy forms part of a wider government effort to reduce financial strain on families and make tertiary education more accessible, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Other key education-related budget allocations for 2025 include GH¢3.5 billion for the Free SHS programme, GH¢564.6 million for free curriculum-based textbooks, and an increase in funding for the School Feeding Programme from GH¢1.344 billion to GH¢1.788 billion, marking a 33% rise.