The Government has spent more than GH¢900 million under the “No Fees Stress” policy introduced to cover academic user fees for first-year students in public tertiary institutions, Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has disclosed.
President John Dramani Mahama launched the policy on 4 July 2025 to support first-year students enrolled in public tertiary institutions.
Mr Iddrisu announced the expenditure during the commissioning of the Kenyasi Number Two campus of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.
The new campus, initiated by the Kenyasi Number Two Traditional Council and constructed by the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), comprises a four-storey lecture block built at a cost of more than GH¢13.9 million.
The facility includes eight lecture halls, an ICT laboratory, modern classroom furniture and an elevator.
The Education Minister also announced that Government had earmarked GH¢50 million for infrastructure development to support the full operationalisation of the Kenyasi Number Two campus.
He further disclosed that Government was finalising arrangements to establish public universities in the Ahafo Region and other regions that currently do not have one. According to him, those institutions are expected to be established before the end of President Mahama’s current term of office.
Mr Iddrisu commended the chiefs and people of the Ahafo Region for their support for the project and encouraged students to take advantage of the new campus to pursue higher education.
General Manager of Ahafo Mine at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Alex Kofi Annin, described the campus as the result of collaboration between the community and its development partners.
“The campus reflects what we can achieve when a community has a clear vision, when institutions collaborate and when development resources are invested with purpose,” he said.
Mr Annin said the facility would expand access to quality mining and engineering education, particularly for students from the Ahafo Region, and noted that Newmont, through NADeF, had awarded scholarships to more than 15,000 young people from its host communities over the past 20 years.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of NADeF, Professor Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, said the Foundation is funded through a contribution of US$1 for every ounce of gold sold and one per cent of Newmont Ahafo Mine’s annual pre-tax net profit.
He said the Foundation’s operations are guided by principles of integrity, stewardship, participation, inclusiveness, respect and transparency.
The Paramount Chief of the Kenyasi Number Two Traditional Area, Odeneho Dadeako Nsiah Ababio, commended Government for supporting the establishment of the UMaT campus and appealed for the expansion of infrastructure at OLA Girls Senior High School in the area.
