The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a firm directive mandating all public universities across the country to maintain their current student fees for the 2025/2026 academic year. This circular, dated November 3, 2025, comes as part of a strict enforcement measure to ensure regulatory compliance within the tertiary education sector. It explicitly instructs that no university is permitted to revise student fees unless prior approval is obtained from Parliament, as required by the constitution.
This move by GTEC addresses ongoing concerns that public tertiary institutions have been adjusting fees without following the legal process mandated by the Fees and Charges Act. According to the commission, these unauthorized fee changes have led to significant implementation difficulties, complicating fee administration and creating confusion among students and their families. The circular highlights the need for strict adherence to statutory procedures to protect stakeholders and uphold financial transparency in all public universities.
The circular stresses that complying with the Fees and Charges Act is critical for state organizations like universities when setting or changing fees. It emphasizes that fee adjustments without parliamentary approval contravene the law, potentially exposing institutions to legal challenges and undermining students’ trust. The directive clarifies that maintaining the current fee structure until official sanctions are obtained will provide a clear and legally sound framework for tuition and other fees in the upcoming academic year.
Vice Chancellors were explicitly reminded of their legal responsibilities in this matter. The letter, signed by Dr. Emmanuel Oware Nyarko, Director of Quality Assurance & Compliance, on behalf of the Director General, was sent directly to the heads of all traditional and technical universities. It underscores the high-level commitment of GTEC to uphold regulatory standards and ensure that all financial dealings within public tertiary education are transparent and lawful.
This regulatory enforcement serves as a clear warning and guidance to tertiary institutions, reinforcing that any fee adjustments are subject to rigorous parliamentary review. The directive aims to safeguard students from arbitrary fee hikes and ensure that their financial obligations toward public universities remain fair and predictable as the new 2025/2026 academic year approaches.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku