As part of the 2025 budget allocations for key policies and interventions, an amount of GH¢499.8 million has been earmarked for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative.

This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, during his presentation of the 2025 Budget in Accra on Tuesday, March 11.

"Mr Speaker, an amount of GH¢499.8 million has been allocated for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative," Dr Forson said.

The "No-Fees-Stress" initiative is a policy aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and guardians in Ghana, particularly in relation to the payment of school fees.

By this initiative, the government will bear the fees for first year students in public tertiary institution. 

It is part of the government's broader efforts to promote education and increase accessibility for all students, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Other allocations include GH¢3.5 billion for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, GH¢564.6 million for the comprehensive provision of free curricula-based textbooks, and an increased budget for the School Feeding Programme, which has risen from GH¢1.344 billion to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025, representing a 33 per cent increase.