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Free tertiary fees for new entrants laudable, but funding may be a challenge – GNAT
The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, has welcomed the proposal to cover academic user fees for first-year tertiary students but has expressed concern about sustainability.
While he acknowledges the benefits of easing the financial burden on students and parents, he warns that the country’s stretched education budget may not be able to bear the weight of such an initiative without careful planning.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, he recognised the proposal by Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education nominee, as a step in the right direction, offering much-needed support for new students.
However, he stressed that while the idea is commendable, the reality of financing it could pose significant challenges for the already fragile national budget.
“While it’s a great move for students, we need to ask ourselves: how much do we actually have to fund these initiatives?” he asked, underscoring the importance of a sustainable funding strategy.
He highlighted the ongoing financial struggles within the education sector, including arrears owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), unpaid bills to school feeding suppliers, and long-overdue payments to food vendors in Senior High Schools (SHS).
To make matters worse, capitation grants have been in arrears for over two years, raising serious concerns about the government’s ability to meet its educational commitments.
Mr Musah also pointed to the need for a broader, more long-term strategy to secure reliable funding for education in Ghana, something GNAT has long advocated for but has yet to see fully implemented.
Without this, he warned that any effort to support first-year students could be short-lived and add even more strain on the system.
Mr Musah agreed that paying first-year university students’ fees is a positive development, and emphasised that its success hinges on the government’s ability to secure sustainable funding.
“Without a solid financial plan, the initiative could face significant challenges and deepen the financial pressures already plaguing the education sector” he concluded.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the proposed free primary healthcare policy is designed to support the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), not to take its place.
He explained that the initiative will work alongside the NHIS to improve access to basic healthcare services across the country.
He made the remarks at the official launch of the free primary healthcare programme held on Wednesday April, 15th 2026 at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in Dodowa.
According to him, the introduction of free primary healthcare does not mean Ghanaians should stop registering for the NHIS.
He urged citizens to continue obtaining their NHIS cards, stressing that the scheme remains important for healthcare delivery beyond the primary level.
He further explained that under the new arrangement, patients seeking care at polyclinics, health centres, CHPS compounds, and health kiosks will not be required to present an NHIS card at the point of examination and treatment.
Instead, individuals will only need to show a Ghana Card or any valid form of identification to prove they are Ghanaians and residents within the community to access services.
He noted that the policy aims to remove barriers to basic healthcare and ensure that more people can receive treatment at the primary level without difficulty.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three (3) suspects in connection with a case of possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited drug-related activities within the Accra metropolis.
On April 10, 2026, the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector General of Police received intelligence that a group of individuals were planning to engage in the sale of suspected narcotic drugs at Dzorwulu in Accra.
A surveillance operation was mounted and on 11th April 2026, a Police team proceeded to the area and arrested two suspects, Bright Ayivor and Ifeanyi Ijeoba.
The suspects were found in possession of twenty-two (22) compressed substances suspected to be cocaine, which were being prepared for sale to a prospective buyer.
Further interrogation of the suspects led to the identification of a third suspect, Kwabena Botwe as a key figure in the drug trade.
A follow-up operation at Caprice resulted in his arrest after Police mounted surveillance during a planned transaction involving proceeds from the sale of the suspected drugs.
The suspect later led Police to his residence at Greda Estates, where a search resulted in the retrieval of an amount of GHc400,000 and a counting machine.
According to the police, during the operation, he attempted to bribe the arresting officers with an additional GHc420,000, which has been retained as evidence.
All the suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations and will be put before the court.
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