The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has approved loans for 9,433 students across 62 public and private tertiary institutions in Ghana.

Since stepping into her role, Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Saajida Shiraz has taken decisive action to address key concerns. One of her first major steps has been ensuring that students receive the financial support they need.

She acknowledged the delays in disbursements and extended an apology to affected students. Assuring them of a more efficient process, she emphasized her commitment to timely financial assistance for all eligible applicants.

Dr. Shiraz has also begun implementing the SLTF Plus policy, an initiative aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for a stronger tertiary education financing system. This policy aims to improve both financial support for students and the overall efficiency of the fund.

Looking back on her first week in office, she described it as productive, highlighting engagements with stakeholders. She participated in discussions at the National Education Forum on education financing, interacted with SLTF staff, and explored strategies to strengthen the fund’s operations.

She has also collaborated with Deputy CEO Kojo Danquah and visited SLTF’s zonal and regional offices in Accra.

Additionally, she noted that some immediate interventions have been made to ensure the fund operates in the best interest of students.

Through these early efforts, Dr. Shiraz is setting the stage for a more responsive SLTF, assuring students of better service delivery and improved access to financial support.