The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has instructed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to issue a firm directive to all public universities to immediately suspend any unauthorized increases in tuition fees.
The directive follows reports that some universities had unilaterally adjusted fees despite the government’s rollout of the “No Fees Stress Policy,” which guarantees free tertiary education for first-year students and persons with disabilities.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Monday, November 3, 2025, Mr. Iddrisu expressed disappointment over attempts by some institutions to take undue advantage of the policy.
“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 said.
He cautioned universities against exploiting the initiative, warning that arbitrary fee hikes would not be tolerated.
“Many of you MPs sitting 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. So make sure you issue consequential instructions to schools not to take advantage of that,” he added.
Mr. Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making tertiary education more accessible and affordable, stressing that all institutions must align with the administration’s vision of easing the financial burden on students and their families.
In a related development, the Minister revealed that the Ministry of Education is reviewing the policy requiring private universities to secure a presidential charter within 10 years of operation or face closure.
He explained that the review follows petitions from several private universities seeking an extension to adequately prepare for independent status.