By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Dr. Saajida Shiraz, has assured the public that her office will ensure no ghost names are included in the ‘No Fees Stress’ initiative recently launched by President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show, Dr. Shiraz reaffirmed her commitment to accountability and transparency in the disbursement process, stating that only eligible students would benefit from the reimbursement scheme.
“I have never sought to interfere with the process,” she said, emphasizing that her outfit’s systems are mathematical and data-driven, with both pre and post-audit processes in place to maintain integrity.
Dr. Shiraz further stated that the SLTF is open to investigations at any time to ensure the credibility of the No Fees Stress initiative.
She revealed that so far, 15,000 students who applied through the official portal have already received reimbursements. The SLTF aims to complete the process for all applicants by the end of August 2025.
When asked why the funds were being reimbursed directly to students instead of the tertiary institutions, she explained that paying institutions would have created complications.
“It would have been a messy implementation,” she noted.
The No Fees Stress initiative was launched on Friday, July 4, 2025, by President Mahama in Koforidua, Eastern Region. The policy seeks to remove financial barriers that prevent qualified students from enrolling in public universities, technical universities, nursing training colleges, and colleges of education.
The initiative targets first-year students pursuing an accredited diploma or degree programmes in public tertiary institutions. Eligible students can apply through the No-Fees-Stress application portal.
