Former President and NDC leader John Dramani Mahama has strongly supported his plan to remove academic facility user fees for first-year students in public universities. He addressed skeptics who question the plan’s practicality. At a recent gathering, Mahama explained the plan’s feasibility and its importance in providing equal access to higher education for all Ghanaians.
“I’ve listened to people who doubt that we can stop charging students for using school facilities. But I want to be clear—we can achieve this, and we need to achieve this,” Mahama said strongly. He mentioned the many students throughout the country who have missed out on the chance to study because their families couldn’t pay the fees.
“I heard about a young man from the Upper East Region who got all A’s in school and was accepted into medical school. But instead of going to class, he was working on a farm because his family couldn’t pay the fees,” Mahama shared. “This situation is common for many families, and it’s not right.”
Some people have doubts about the government’s ability to pay for this program, thinking it would cost between 270 to 290 million Ghana cedis each year. However, Mahama quickly mentioned that this cost is manageable if the government focuses on important expenses and reduces unnecessary spending.
“Some people think 270 million cedis is a lot of money, but let’s consider the details. The president’s travel expenses were 69 million cedis in just nine months. A single government meeting cost almost five million cedis. The yearly budget for the president’s office was more than three billion cedis,” Mahama explained. “By reducing unnecessary spending and reallocating funds, we can easily afford this policy.”
Mahama also talked about worries that the policy might affect the financial health of universities, which depend on government support. “We won’t cut the support we give to universities; instead, we’ll increase it and make sure it’s provided on time,” he promised. “This will help universities manage their budgets without relying on fees from new students.”
Additionally, Mahama rejected the idea that the policy violates the constitution. He referred to Article 25 of the 1992 Constitution and stated, “The Constitution requires that we make higher education available to everyone by gradually introducing free education at the university level. What we are suggesting is not only doable—it’s our legal responsibility.”
Mahama ended by emphasizing his dedication to ensuring higher education is accessible for everyone. “This isn’t just about money or budgets; it’s about the future of our youth and our country. We can achieve this by reducing waste and corruption, and I am completely dedicated to making it happen.”
