The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government will soon launch the President’s Scholarship, aimed at honoring and supporting ten exceptional students from second-cycle institutions across the country.
The announcement was made during the official launch of the No Fees Stress Policy, where the Minister highlighted that the scholarship scheme will form part of the enduring legacy of President John Dramani Mahama.
According to the Minister, the selection process will be purely merit-based, with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) responsible for determining and declaring the top-performing students.
“The President’s Scholarship will honour 10 brilliant students, as determined and declared by WAEC, and the overall best Ghanaian student from the WASSCE,” he said. “The scholarship will fully absorb them.”
Hon. Iddrisu emphasized that the scheme will not be influenced by political or personal connections, stating that it will also prioritize students in critical areas of national development.
“To honour the enduring legacy of President Mahama, there will be what we call the President’s Scholarship, which will recognize and award brilliant students in the country’s priority areas. Whether it’s science, engineering, or mathematics, it will be awarded at the president’s pleasure — not out of nepotistic preference,”
The announcement comes as the Students Loan Trust Fund begins disbursements under the No Fees Stress Policy, with over 1,500 first-year tertiary students already receiving financial support. Remaining applicants are currently undergoing verification and are expected to be processed in the coming days.
The No Fees Stress Policy is one of the NDC government’s flagship social interventions, aimed at reducing the financial burden on tertiary students by paying the academic user fee for first year students.