Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang says government is reshaping Ghana’s tertiary education landscape through a series of bold, high-level interventions aimed at expanding access and removing financial barriers.
Speaking at the 59th Congregation of Post-Graduate Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, she highlighted the “No Fees Stress” policy, which removes upfront financial burdens for first-year students in public tertiary institutions. The policy took effect in the 2025/2026 academic year.
The ceremony, attended by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and Chancellor of KNUST, conferred Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees on 221 post-graduate students for their outstanding research contributions.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also pointed to the newly introduced Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability, rolled out in October this year, which guarantees full financial support for persons with disabilities admitted to accredited public tertiary institutions.
She described the initiative as “a clear act of justice” and a major step toward fairness in higher education.
According to her, both policies are designed to promote efficiency, transparency and equitable access.
“This is an equity-driven intervention, designed to ensure that admissions to our tertiary institutions are determined as much as possible by merit and aspiration,” she said.
The Vice President said the interventions expand opportunities and strengthen Ghana’s long-term human capital development. She stressed that scholarships must be tied to measurable impact, not confined to lecture halls and laboratories.
Commending the graduates, she urged them to honour the responsibilities that accompany their achievements, noting that Ghana and the African continent need leadership grounded in data, ethics and public value.
She reminded them to remain humble and mindful of the contributions of their families, communities and the nation.
“Your families, communities and nation have not invested in your education for your benefit alone. Remember them, and maintain your academic humility,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Otumfuo Osei Tutu II appealed to government to grant additional financial clearance for KNUST to recruit more academic and administrative staff.
A recent five-year cyclical review by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) revealed an unfavourable lecturer-to-student ratio, a development the Asantehene said is straining lecturers and threatening the quality of teaching and learning.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
