GTEC orders University of Ghana to reverse all fee increases for 2025/2026 academic year

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed the University of Ghana to immediately reverse any recent increases in student fees and dues for the 2025/2026 academic year.

In a letter dated January 5, 2026, signed by GTEC Director-General Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the commission stated that publicly funded universities cannot increase fees without following proper procedures, including obtaining Parliamentary approval as required by law.

GTEC has also instructed the university to credit continuing students who overpaid last year’s fees towards the next academic year and to refund final-year students who paid more than the previous academic year’s rates. In addition, all dues, including SRC and GRASSAG fees, must be reverted to last year’s rates. Any newly introduced fees, such as the 75th Anniversary dues and Development Levy, are to be suspended unless already in place.

The directive follows reports of over 25 per cent increase in academic fees across all colleges for the 2025/2026 academic year. The university had explained that the increase was largely due to third-party charges imposed by student leadership, not by the university authorities.

GTEC’s letter, copied to the Minister of Education, his deputy, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, the Vice Chancellors of Ghana, and the University of Ghana’s Director of Internal Audit, warned that evidence of compliance must be provided by January 12, 2026, or the commission would institute serious regulatory sanctions.

The commission emphasised that new fees cannot be charged without prior Parliamentary approval, in line with statutory requirements under the Fees and Charges Act, and reminded all public universities to adhere to proper procedures in fee setting.