Students in Ghana to benefit from Free Sanitary Pads and Waived First-Year Academic Fees

As part of the 2025 Budget, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced that GH¢292.4 million has been allocated for the free distribution of sanitary pads to female students, while GH¢499.8 million has been set aside to eliminate academic fees for first-year students in public tertiary institutions​.

Ensuring Menstrual Health for Female Students

Menstrual health remains a significant challenge for many girls in Ghana, with some missing classes due to the lack of access to sanitary pads. To address this, the government is rolling out a nationwide free sanitary pad distribution programme, ensuring that no girl is forced to stay out of school because of menstruation.

This initiative aligns with the government’s broader gender empowerment agenda and is expected to promote educational equity. By removing a key barrier that affects school attendance, the policy will allow more girls to focus on their education without unnecessary disruptions.

No-Academic-Fee Policy to Ease Financial Burdens

In addition to supporting female students, the government has introduced the “No-Fees-Stress” initiative, which eliminates academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions. Dr. Forson emphasized that this intervention is a crucial step toward expanding access to higher education, particularly for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Mr. Speaker, an amount of GH¢499.8 million has been allocated for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative,” he announced​.

The policy is expected to ease the financial burden on parents, many of whom struggle to cover tuition costs. At the same time, it will encourage more young people to enroll in tertiary institutions without the fear of financial constraints. By removing these barriers, the government hopes to create a more inclusive educational system that offers opportunities for all.

Sustaining the Policies Through GETFund and NHIL

To ensure the long-term success of these interventions, the government has uncapped the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), making more funds available for education initiatives such as Free SHS and the No-Academic-Fee policy​. Similarly, the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) has been uncapped, allowing for increased resources to support health and social protection programmes, including free primary healthcare​.

These financial adjustments are designed to create a sustainable funding model that guarantees the continued implementation of these social policies without placing excessive strain on public finances.

Source: TheHighStreetJournal