The Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC has said that a series of interventions introduced under President Mahama’s administration are significantly easing the financial and academic pressures on tertiary students across the country.
The group made the remarks during the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) TEIN branch’s freshers’ orientation and welcoming ceremony, where new students were introduced to the network’s role in advocating for student welfare.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the event, TEIN-KsTU President Abigail Amenyah highlighted the “No-Academic-Fee” policy as one of the most impactful measures introduced so far.
She explained that the policy has substantially reduced the upfront cost of enrollment at the beginning of the semester, allowing many students to register without the financial strain that previously led to deferrals and dropouts.
She further praised the expanded Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) Plus programme, saying it has improved the speed and efficiency of loan disbursements while widening access to more applicants.
“For many years, financial constraints prevented a large number of Ghanaians from pursuing tertiary education. However, following the introduction of the ‘No Fee Stress’ initiative, which fully covers the academic fees of all first-year students, tertiary enrollment has seen a significant boost. The policy has eased the upfront financial burden on families and opened doors for students who previously could not afford to enroll,” she said.
Abigail added that reforms at the SLTF are also yielding results.
“The Student Loan Trust Fund has shown marked improvement in the efficiency of disbursements, and the growing number of beneficiaries reflects its increasing impact on supporting students through their academic journey,” she noted.
She also highlighted the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) initiative, which covers full tuition and academic fees for students with disabilities from first year through to graduation.
She described it as a landmark step toward building a more inclusive and sustainable financial aid system.
“This programme reduces barriers to higher education and ensures that students with disabilities have the resources they need to complete their academic journey without interruption,” she said.
“These interventions show the administration is listening. They are directly easing both the financial and academic strain that has affected student performance and retention in recent years,” she stressed.
She argued that tertiary students have received greater relief under the current NDC administration than under the previous NPP government, expressing confidence that Ghanaian youth would reward the party at the polls.
“I am confident that Ghanaian youth will turn out in large numbers to vote for the NDC in the next elections, ensuring that the party retains power. During the NPP’s tenure, tertiary students faced severe financial and academic challenges, with many struggling to meet fees and access support. But through the commitment and hard work of the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, the government has taken decisive steps to turn things around,” she stated.
As Guest of Honour, Emmanuel Reagan Fynn, Ashanti Regional Organiser of the NDC and Regional Director of the National Service Authority, commended the freshers for joining TEIN, adding that the NDC has a consistent record of providing equal opportunities to all members regardless of background.
“They have made a good decision by joining TEIN, as it is the most effective political student wing across all tertiary institutions,” he said. “They will never regret their decision, because the NDC does not discriminate; we provide equal opportunity to every member.”
Fynn urged TEIN-KsTU members to actively publicise the government’s student-focused interventions, even to their counterparts in TESCON, the opposing student wing.
He argued that broader awareness of these policies would help the network rally support and secure votes for the NDC in the upcoming general elections.
While encouraging political engagement, he also reminded students to prioritise their academics.
“No matter how active you are in student politics, your studies must come first, because academic success is the primary reason for being in tertiary education,” he cautioned.
