No-Fees-Stress Policy: Reimbursement to Start in June – SLTF CEO

The Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah, has confirmed that reimbursements under the government’s No-Fees-Stress policy will begin in June 2025, bringing much-anticipated relief to thousands of students across Ghana's tertiary institutions.

The No-Fees-Stress policy was introduced to allow students to enroll in tertiary institutions without upfront payment of fees, with the understanding that the SLTF would cover the initial costs and reimburse either students or institutions later.

At a press briefing in Accra, the SLTF CEO stated that the Fund has secured the necessary disbursement approvals and is finalizing arrangements to begin payments in phases. Beneficiaries who fronted their fees while waiting for government support are expected to start receiving reimbursements from next month.

“We understand the challenges many students faced when they had to pay their fees despite the policy. I am pleased to announce that from June, the Students Loan Trust Fund will begin reimbursing all verified applicants under the No-Fees-Stress scheme,” Yeboah said.

He further assured students that rigorous validation processes have been conducted to ensure that only eligible students receive payments. Disbursements will be made directly to students' accounts where applicable, or to the respective institutions if fees were paid on behalf of students.

The policy, widely praised for its attempt to democratize access to tertiary education, faced some implementation hurdles earlier in the academic year, as delays in funding caused confusion on some campuses. Several student unions raised concerns about late fee payments and admission risks, prompting the SLTF to expedite the reimbursement schedule.

The SLTF boss encouraged students to regularly check their online loan portals and ensure their bank details are correctly updated to facilitate smooth transfers.

Education analysts have welcomed the announcement, noting that timely reimbursement will not only provide financial relief to students but also help tertiary institutions manage their finances more effectively.

With this move, the government hopes to restore confidence in the No-Fees-Stress policy and reinforce its commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for all Ghanaian students.