Reverse 25% fee hikes or face sanctions – GTEC to UG

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed the University of Ghana (UG), to immediately reverse all fee increases introduced for the 2025/2026 academic year, warning that failure to comply will attract serious regulatory sanctions.

In a letter dated January 5, 2026, signed by GTEC Director-General Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, GTEC said it had become aware that the university increased student fees by about 25% and, in some cases, introduced new charges without the required approval from the relevant authorities.

The Commission noted that the action contravenes an earlier directive issued on November 3, 2025, which explicitly instructed all publicly funded tertiary institutions not to implement any fee increases for the 2025/2026 academic year without parliamentary approval, as required by law.

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As part of corrective measures, GTEC has ordered the University of Ghana to immediately reverse all fee increments and suspend the collection of any newly introduced charges.

The Commission further directed that continuing students who have already paid the increased fees should have the excess amounts credited to their accounts for the next academic year.

Final-year students who have paid fees above the previous academic year’s rates are also to be refunded the difference, while all dues, including SRC and GRASSAG charges, must be reverted to last academic year’s rates.

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GTEC also instructed the university to suspend any new fees, including charges such as the 75th Anniversary dues and Development Levy, if they were newly introduced, and ensure that all fees remain at the 2024/2025 levels unless otherwise authorised.

The Commission has given the University of Ghana up to January 12, 2026, to provide evidence of full compliance with the directives.

It warned that failure to do so would result in the imposition of serious regulatory sanctions.

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GTEC stressed that any variation from the directive must receive explicit written approval from the Minister for Education.

It added that the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, will serve as the liaison between the Ministry and the University of Ghana on the matter.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing compliance with the Fees and Charges Act and ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of tertiary education institutions across the country.