The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has provided unequivocal assurances that its pioneering “No Fees Stress” initiative, inaugurated by President John Dramani Mahama, is meticulously designed to preclude the inclusion of ghost names.
Dr. Saajida Shiraz, the Chief Executive Officer of SLTF, underscored the institution’s unrelenting commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement process.
“We have instituted a robust, data-driven framework, bolstered by rigorous pre and post-audit protocols, to ensure the utmost integrity of the system,” Dr. Shiraz affirmed during a GTV Breakfast Show appearance. “I have consistently refrained from interfering with the process,” she emphasized, underscoring that only students who meet the requisite eligibility criteria will benefit from the reimbursement scheme.
Dr. Shiraz disclosed that a substantial cohort of 15,000 students who submitted applications through the official portal have already received reimbursements. The SLTF is resolutely working towards completing the process for all applicants by the end of August 2025.
In response to queries regarding the direct payment of funds to students instead of tertiary institutions, she elucidated that channeling payments through institutions would have precipitated unwarranted complexities.
“It would have been a convoluted and messy implementation,” she observed.
The “No Fees Stress” initiative is a visionary policy endeavor aimed at dismantling financial barriers that hinder qualified students from gaining admission to public universities, technical universities, nursing training colleges, and colleges of education. Eligible students can submit applications through the dedicated No-Fees-Stress portal.
Dr. Shiraz reiterated that her office welcomes scrutiny at any time to ensure the unimpeachable credibility of the initiative.
