Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has praised the No Fees Stress Policy, saying it has removed one of the steepest barriers to higher education for more than 120,000 students across the country. Speaking during the 59th Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, she described the policy as an equity-driven intervention that ensures all qualified students can access tertiary education, regardless of their financial background.
“This policy demonstrates our commitment to creating opportunities for every student to participate fully in Ghana’s academic and professional life,” she said, highlighting the importance of equity in education.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang noted that access to education is a critical step in fostering skills development, research, and entrepreneurship, which are essential to national growth and development. She stressed that policies like the No Fees Stress Policy are designed to level the playing field and provide young Ghanaians with the tools they need to succeed.
While at KNUST, the Vice President also inaugurated three minor projects on campus – the Souvenir Shop, the Multipurpose Laboratory, and the Bottling Company – in the presence of Chancellor His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Vice Chancellor Prof. Rita Dickson. She described the projects as examples of what universities can achieve when they are supported to innovate, though she emphasized that the real impact lies in empowering students to access education without financial barriers.
The Vice President used the occasion to encourage universities across the country to continue promoting policies that ensure inclusive access, practical training, and opportunities for all students, noting that Ghana’s future depends on an educated, skilled, and equitable workforce.
“We are committed to creating an education system where no qualified student is left behind because of financial constraints,” she added, urging other institutions to adopt similar initiatives.
The event underscored government’s ongoing focus on inclusive education and equity-driven reforms, aiming to ensure that every student has the opportunity to contribute to Ghana’s intellectual, professional, and economic development.