President John Dramani Mahama has launched a landmark Free Tertiary Education policy for Persons with Disabilities, describing it as a strategic nati
President John Dramani Mahama has launched a landmark Free Tertiary Education policy for Persons with Disabilities, describing it as a strategic national investment and a moral responsibility rather than an act of charity.
Speaking at the launch last Friday, President Mahama said the true measure of a nation’s character lies in its ability to ensure that every citizen can realize their full potential. He drew inspiration from the late Nelson Mandela, quoting: “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but by how it treats its lowest ones.”
“This policy is a defining moment in Ghana’s journey towards inclusion and equality,” he said.
Fulfilling a Campaign Pledge
The initiative delivers on a key campaign promise and aims to eliminate financial barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing higher education.
President Mahama stressed that the policy is a direct investment in national development.
“Each student supported becomes an asset to Ghana — a potential engineer, teacher, entrepreneur. Their success strengthens our economy and enriches our collective humanity,” he stated.
He referenced the 2021 Population and Housing Census which recorded over two million Ghanaians living with disabilities, noting that behind the numbers are “dreams that deserve to be fulfilled.”
Advancing Inclusive Education
The President highlighted that the policy builds upon the Inclusive Education framework introduced under his government in 2015.
He called on stakeholders — particularly Corporate Ghana — to contribute to advancing nationwide educational access and dignity.
Implementation and Funding
The revamped and digitized Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) will oversee implementation to ensure transparency, efficiency, and seamless access.
Disability-related scholarships previously administered by the Scholarship Secretariat will now be integrated into a single system under the SLTF.
Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will provide GH¢50 million annually to support the scheme and the broader No Fees Stress policy.
The acting CEO of the SLTF, Dr. Saajida Shiraz, described the policy as “a testament to the President’s unwavering commitment to equity in education.” She announced that students with disabilities will no longer apply individually for support. Instead, tertiary institutions will submit verified lists through the SLTF Tertiary Institutions Portal for full fee disbursement.
“We are grateful to public universities, technical universities, colleges of education, health training institutions and colleges of agriculture for agreeing to insulate persons with disabilities completely from the stress of fees,” Dr. Shiraz said.