Prof Aryeetey to Gov’t: Direct ‘No-Fees-Stress’ policy to truly needy students

Emeritus Professor Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has called on the government to ensure that the implementation of the free first-year tertiary education policy is directed strictly at students with genuine financial need.

Speaking at the 20th-anniversary conference of the University of Ghana’s Students Financial Aid Office (SFAO) on Tuesday, July 8, Prof. Aryeetey explained the importance of equity and efficiency in distributing educational support.

The event was held under the theme, “Promoting Equity, Expanding Access, and Enhancing Aid Administration in Ghana’s Tertiary Education.”
“Some of them need it, but some don’t. Don’t waste your money on those who don’t need it. Let us find a good way of identifying those who need the money, and it is possible to identify them,” he said.

Prof. Aryeetey also urged universities to increase transparency in financial aid processes and remove systemic obstacles that hinder deserving students from accessing support.

Also speaking at the event, Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged the concerns raised and revealed that government is working on a statistical framework to better assess and regulate financial aid beneficiaries.