The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has asked the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, to, with immediate effect, reverse the 25% increase in academic fees for the 2025/2026 academic year.
In a move aimed at protecting students from unauthorised financial burdens, the regulator warned that the university faces “serious regulatory sanctions” if it fails to comply by January 12, 2026.
The directive, contained in a letter dated January 5, 2026, and addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, comes after GTEC discovered that the university had bypassed legal requirements by implementing fee hikes and introducing new charges without prior approval.
GTEC noted that the university’s actions directly contravene a previous directive issued on November 3, 2025, which explicitly ordered all publicly funded tertiary institutions to freeze fee increases for the current academic year.
It reminded the school and others that the Fees and Charges Act stated categorically that any adjustments to fees in public institutions must receive parliamentary approval.
“The Commission has been made aware that the University of Ghana has increased fees by 25% and, in certain instances, introduced new fees without prior approval from the relevant authorities as required by law,” the letter stated.
The Hon. Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has been appointed as the liaison between the Ministry and the University to oversee the process.
The University of Ghana has until January 12 to provide GTEC with documented evidence of compliance.
To rectify the situation, GTEC has laid out a five-point mandate for the university:
- Reverse any fee increases and/or dues immediately.
- Credit all continuing students who have overpaid compared to last Academic Year’s fees for the next Academic Year.
- Refund the difference to final-year students who have paid in excess of the fees for last Academic Year.
- Revert all dues, including SRC and GRASSAG dues, to last Academic Year’s rates.
- Suspend any new fees, such as the 75th Anniversary dues and Development Levy (if newly introduced), except for those that were already in place. The fees must be set at the last Academic Year’s rate.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana