By Nadia Ntiamoah
The University of Ghana (UG) has issued a formal clarification amid growing public debate and student agitation over approved fees for the 2025/2026 academic year, insisting that it has not increased its core academic charges and has acted strictly within national law and regulatory directives.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Registrar on January 15, 2026, the University explained that recent concerns surrounding fee increments stem largely from misunderstandings about the structure and origin of certain levies, rather than any unilateral increase by management in academic facility user fees.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of widespread criticism following the release of provisional fee schedules for the 2025/26 academic year, which showed noticeable increases in total payable amounts for both fresh and continuing students.
These figures had sparked protests and public commentary, particularly at a time when the cost of living remains high and tertiary students are already under significant financial pressure.
According to the University, its approach to fees is rooted in its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, where “Transformative Student Experience” is identified as the institution’s foremost priority.
Management maintains that all decisions affecting fees are guided by the need to support quality teaching, learning, research, and student welfare, while ensuring institutional sustainability.
UG emphasized that, as a public university, it operates under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), and is subject to strict regulatory oversight by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Statutory fees, the University noted, can only be implemented after approval by Parliament, while the University Council exercises oversight to ensure that all fee-related decisions follow established governance procedures.
Crucially, the University stressed that it has not increased Academic Facility User Fees (AFUF) for the 2025/26 academic year.
These fees, management said, have remained unchanged since the 2023/2024 academic year. What has changed, UG explained, are certain components within the overall fee structure—adjustments that originated from student-led engagements rather than administrative imposition.
The University disclosed that these changes followed advocacy and consultations initiated by student representative bodies, including the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG).
The resulting levies and dues were subsequently reviewed and approved by the University Council after going through the prescribed approval processes.
As part of efforts to address concerns raised publicly, officials of the University, together with student leaders, met with the Deputy Minister for Education, GTEC, and other key stakeholders on January 8, 2026.
Following the engagement, it was agreed that the SRC Development Levy—adjusted through SRC-led consultations to support student-focused initiatives—would be capped at GH¢200.
UG further clarified that the much-discussed Telecel data package is not compulsory, describing it as an optional service designed to support students’ academic and digital connectivity needs.
Students, the University stressed, are free to opt out of the package entirely.
Management also addressed concerns over the 75th Anniversary Levy, stating categorically that it is not a new charge.
The levy supports the University’s ongoing multipurpose Student Experience Centre, a legacy project initiated during UG’s 75th anniversary celebrations in 2023.
The facility is intended to enhance student services and infrastructure for both current and future cohorts.
Reinforcing its commitment to transparency, UG highlighted its long-standing practice of clearly itemising fees to enable students, parents, and guardians to understand the specific cost components and the services they fund.
The University acknowledged that its scale of operations and openness often attract heightened public scrutiny but insisted that this only strengthens its resolve to maintain clarity, accountability, and compliance.
In recognition of the financial challenges faced by students, UG revealed that it has reduced the required upfront payment for registration from 70 percent to 50 percent of approved fees.
This policy allows students to complete registration while arranging flexible payment plans for outstanding balances.
The University also pointed to existing scholarship and financial aid opportunities available through the Student Financial Aid Office.
