Haruna Iddrisu directs GETFund Board to increase Students Loan allocation to GHC150m

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to significantly boost its allocation to the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) from GHC60 million to GHC150 million, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on tertiary students across the country.

Mr. Iddrisu issued the directive in Accra on Monday, April 29, during the inauguration of a new Board of Trustees for the SLTF.

The decision is part of a broader government strategy to extend student loan support to include private tertiary institutions.

“Government is considering expanding the loan trust to students in private schools, so this year we have to look at it. But it is the desire of the President to extend it to other Ghanaians and this is a loan which is payable,” he said.

The Minister described the current allocation as insufficient, noting that GETFund has so far disbursed only GHC20 million of the approved GHC60 million for 2025.

“If we anticipate expanding it to cover other students in other institutions, especially the private universities, I have no hesitation that the loan should be increased to GHC150 million next year,” he added.

This move complements the government’s proposed “No Fees” policy, which aims to absorb fees for first-year students in both public and private universities, a plan that has faced some public criticism but remains a key priority for the administration.

Board Chairperson of the SLTF, Cynthia Amerley Amartefio, pledged the Board’s commitment to ensuring fair and efficient disbursement of loans. “We are committed to making sure the funds reach the most deserving students,” she assured

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