The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed all public tertiary institutions across the country to halt any planned increases in student fees for the 2025/2026 academic year until parliamentary approval is secured.
In an official notice issued on November 3, 2025, and signed by Dr. Emmanuel Oware Nyarko, Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance, GTEC cautioned universities against the longstanding practice of reviewing fees without following legal standards.
According to the Commission, some institutions have, over the years, adjusted their fees without adhering to the proper statutory process — a situation GTEC says has created challenges in implementation and accountability.
The letter emphasized that per the Fees and Charges Act, public universities cannot introduce new fees without the express approval of Parliament.
“GTEC reminds all universities that new fees for the 2025/2026 academic year cannot be charged without prior approval from Parliament, as mandated by law,” the statement said.
Vice-Chancellors have therefore been instructed to maintain the current fee structure until authorization is granted.
The directive was copied to the Minister of Education, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, and leadership of university councils, stressing the Commission’s commitment to ensuring equity and transparency in tertiary education financing.
The move comes amid widespread public concern over rising cost of tertiary education and calls from student groups for government intervention to ease financial pressure on families.
GTEC says it is hopeful that institutions will adhere to the directive to support effective regulation and protect students from unauthorized fee hikes.
