No-Fee-Stress: Refunds for students admitted before Jan 2025 misguided – Kofi Asare

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has raised concerns. He questions the Mahama administration's decision on the "No-Fee-Stress" policy. This policy extends to students enrolled before January 2025. Asare calls it an avoidable financial burden.

On Channel One TV, he reviewed President Mahama’s first 120 days in office. He argued that refunding pre-Mahama students lacks fiscal prudence. The education sector is already facing budget constraints.

Asare noted that this promise should have been measured against September 2025. The first batch of new tertiary students would enroll under the NDC government this year. However, the government plans to refund those who entered before they took office.

He stated that the policy costs about GH₵500 million per batch. Although portals for processing refunds are open, no disbursements have occurred yet. About 8,000 students have applied for refunds as of Wednesday morning.

Asare warned that this decision could strain the education sector's finances. It may affect funding for other important areas in education. President Mahama is expected to address Ghanaians soon about his social contract in a special broadcast marking his first 120 days in office.