Approximately GH₵345 million will be needed to implement the government’s proposed free tertiary policy aimed at first-year students, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister-designate for Education, has revealed.

He was before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025, during his vetting.

“The country will require about ₵345 million for the population of students who enter tertiary institutions; that is what the state will be required to do,” he said.

He noted the policy aimed to make higher education more accessible to all.

Government will provide the needed funds directly to “affected universities,” to cover tuition fees for first-year students, he added.

In fact, for the sake of fairness, “we intend to provide that money to the affected universities, at least, to make refunds to those who have already paid fees,” he, also, noted.

What is more, Mr Iddrisu said, “The beauty of this is that parents who are willing to pay can do so under this policy that has been introduced by the NDC.”