Tertiary education in Ghana has, over the years, become an essential cornerstone for national development and individual advancement.Yet, it is becoming ever more inaccessible to many Ghanaians due to the soaring costs associated with university and college tuition.
With escalating tuition fees, accommodation costs, and other associated expenses, the dream of attaining higher education has slowly drifted out of reach for a significant proportion of Ghana's youth.Against this backdrop, the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s policy proposal to offer free tertiary education for level 100 students stands as a beacon of hope, potentially addressing the financial constraints faced by countless families.In this piece, I review the significance of this policy in light of the current economic challenges facing students and families and argue that it may indeed serve as a "saviour" for the future of Ghanaian education.The Average Cost of Tertiary Education in GhanaThe cost of tertiary education in Ghana has seen a sharp rise in recent years.
Public universities, which were once regarded as affordable, are now becoming prohibitively expensive for many families.Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in some institutions are estimated to be around GHS 4,000 to GHS 10,000 per year.
For private universities, the fees are significantly higher, often reaching GHS 8,000 to GHS 15,000 or more annually.In addition to tuition, students are burdened with accommodation which averagely costs between GHS 3,000 to GHS 5,000, plus textbooks, research materials, transportation, and other essential living expenses.Therefore, the ordinary Ghanaian needs a minimum average of GHS 7,000 to access tertiary education.