The University of Ghana (UG) has responded to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) published fees, which they noted had been approved for the upcoming academic year.

On Monday, January 12, the tertiary universities regulator released a statement detailing a list of approved fees and levies for University of Ghana students, following high-level stakeholder meeting chaired by the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, with the management of the University of Ghana made up of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Pro VC Prof. Gordon Awandare, Governing Council Chair Marrita Brew, student leaders, and GTEC officials.

GTEC’s in the statement noted that, “Academic Facility User fee to be pegged at the 2024/2025 rate. Student Representative Council (SRC) dues: 50gh. SRC Development Levy: 150gh. Graduate Students (GRASAG) Development levy: 250gh…”

GTEC also mentioned that the Telecel broadband levy, which is pegged at GHS122, should be optional, and students should be properly educated about it so they know they have the right to opt out whenever they deem fit. Also, they ordered that the 75th Anniversary levy could not be charged beyond this academic year.

“Telecel broadband Levy: 122gh across all levels for undergraduate students, including Freshmen. This should be treated as optional, and students must be properly educated about their right to opt out if they so decide.75th Anniversary levy: 100gh (this fee cannot be charged beyond this academic year)”, the statement continued, expressing hope that “this resolves the issues surrounding the 2025/2026 fee schedule for your institution.”

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In a rejoinder dated January 13, UG has highlighted some contradictions in the GTEC’s fees, stating that they differ from what they agreed on during their meeting with the Education Minister and other stakeholders earlier.

They listed three contradictions; however, raised no objections on the academic facility user fees, general tuition and statutory charges, optional nature of the Telecel bundle.

“Having noted the contents of your letter, I would like to draw your attention to a number of items that differ from the decisions reached at the consultative meeting held on Thursday, 8th January 2026, at the Ministry of Education”.

According to UG, “the agreed rate for the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council’s Development Levy was GH¢200. The Telecel bundle was agreed at the originally stated price of GH¢312, with emphasis on the fact that this is an optional service. Students were expected to enhance communication to that effect among their constituents. It was also noted that this bundle provides an enhanced data package, which was arrived at following a survey conducted by the students.”

Ug also explained thatthe 75th Anniversary Levy. Prof. Amfo’s letter clarified that this levy, which funds a legacy Student Experience Centre project, was not discussed for discontinuation.

“Additionally, there was no discussion or decision at the meeting regarding the 75th Anniversary Levy, which is not a new line item. This contribution is towards the legacy project for the University’s 75th anniversary, a Student Experience Centre for various student services. We are therefore unclear on the basis for the request to discontinue this levy after the current academic year.”

About the UG fees hike and management response

On January 2, last week, the university announced an over 25% upward adjustment in academic fees. Following the backlash faced by the school, the management, represented by Pro Vice Chancellor Gordon Awandare, attributed the hike to increased third-party fees during an interview with Citi TV.

He said management has limited control over third-party charges included in the overall academic fees.

He explained that these fees are imposed by student leadership bodies, namely the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), to support their programmes and activities.

According to him, the charges were approved through the students’ own governance structures and communicated to students more than two weeks ago.

“What is being reported as fee increases relates to third-party fees imposed by student leadership. University management did not impose these charges. If students have concerns, they should direct them to their SRC or GRASAG leadership,” he stated.

Professor Awandare further stressed that the university’s core academic fees remain modest and affordable, with no marginal increase, especially when viewed against current economic conditions.

“When you consider fees of about GH¢2,000 for an entire academic year at Ghana’s premier university, it is difficult to describe them as excessive. Utilities and operational costs have risen significantly, yet university fees have largely remained unchanged since 2022. Even students acknowledge that the previous fee levels were no longer sustainable, which is why they adjusted their own components to reflect the cost of running their activities,” he added.

Management maintains that the current adjustments reflect economic realities rather than unilateral decisions by the university.

The increase, according to the document shared by the school management, freshmen of the Humanities College will pay GH¢3,110 for the 2025/26 academic year, representing a 34% hike from the GH¢2,319 charged in the 2024/25 academic year, while continuing students at the college will pay GH¢2,253, marking a 27 percent increase from the previous GH¢1,777.

Similarly, at the University of Ghana School of Law, undergraduate freshers under the College of Humanities will pay GH¢3,226, a 33 percent increase from GH¢2,435 last academic year. Continuing law students will also see their fees rise from GH¢1,890 to GH¢2,396.

Other colleges, including Health Sciences, Basic and Applied Sciences, and Education, have also recorded fee hikes ranging between 25 and 35%.

According to management, one of the major drivers of the hike is a result of an increase in third-party fees. While third-party fees stood at GH¢255 during the 2024/25 academic year, they have increased to GH¢767 for freshmen and GH¢455 for continuing students for the 2025/26 academic year.

A breakdown of these charges includes an SRC Hostel Development Levy of GH¢300, a GH¢100 contribution towards the university’s 75th Anniversary Legacy Project, SRC welfare dues of GH¢50, and reprographic fees of GH¢5. Fresh Level 100 and diploma students are also required to pay GH¢312 for a Telecel data package, while continuing students may opt into a Telecel data and airtime package at GH¢10.22 per month.