'No fees stress policy unsustainable' - Nana Yaw Sarpong tells government

A member of the Movement for Change, Nana Yaw Sarpong, has questioned the long-term viability of the government’s newly launched ‘No Fees Stress’ policy for first-year tertiary students.

Speaking on UTV and monitored by GhanaWeb on Monday, July 7, 2025, he described the policy as well-meaning but potentially unsustainable.

He argued that the funds allocated for such a policy could be better invested in critical development projects across sectors such as health, infrastructure, and job creation.

“Everyone likes a free meal, but the real issue is how sustainable this is. What happens to students in their second or third year when the funds run out? When I first heard about the policy during the 2024 elections, I wondered if it had really been thought through,” he said.

Nana Yaw Sarpong recommended that instead of offering free tertiary education for first-year students, the government should consider establishing a targeted, accessible loan scheme that could even be interest-free.

“A well-structured student loan scheme with amenable terms would go a long way in easing the burden on students while also being financially responsible,” he suggested.

His comments follow the official launch of the policy on Friday, July 4, 2025.

The policy aligns with Article 38(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates equal access to tertiary education.

It is aimed at removing financial barriers to tertiary education fees for all first-year students in public universities, colleges of education, technical universities, and nursing training institutions.

In addition to covering fees for first-year students, the policy also introduces a restructured Student Loan Plus scheme for continuing students and provides free tertiary education for persons living with disabilities (PWDs).

JKB/MA

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