The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has revealed that it has spent about GH¢600 million this year on a range of programmes aimed at supporting Ghanaian students and expanding access to tertiary education.

Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, Dr Saajida Shiraz, disclosed that the amount covered several major interventions, including the Students’ Loan, Students Loan Plus, allowances for teacher trainees, the No Academic Fees policy and free tertiary education support for persons with disabilities.

GH¢600m committed to student support

According to Dr Shiraz, the Fund has had to deploy significant financial resources this year to meet the growing demand for tertiary education financing.

She explained that the approximately GH¢600 million represents spending across the Fund’s various portfolios rather than only the traditional student loan programme.

The programmes are designed to provide financial support to students facing different educational expenses and barriers.

Spending expected to rise to GH¢800m

Dr Shiraz also disclosed that expenditure is expected to increase significantly in the next academic year.

She projected that the Fund could spend close to GH¢800 million as demand for its various interventions continues to grow.

“So this year, we have spent quite some money. In the next academic year it is going to be a little significantly higher than that; we are looking at close to GH¢800 million,” she said.

The projection reflects the Fund’s expanding role in financing tertiary education and implementing government-backed student support programmes.

No Academic Fees support reaches 169,000 students

Dr Shiraz further disclosed that the SLTF had so far disbursed support to 169,000 students under the No Academic Fees policy.

The Fund is targeting approximately 175,000 students under the initiative for the year.

The No Academic Fees policy forms part of efforts to reduce financial barriers for students entering public tertiary institutions.

Earlier figures released by the Fund showed that its interventions had already reached hundreds of thousands of students, with significant government funding channelled through the SLTF.

Technology being deployed to speed up payments

The SLTF CEO said the Fund is also relying increasingly on technology to improve its operations and make the disbursement process more efficient.

However, she noted that some applicants continue to encounter problems involving mismatched names and data during the verification process.

Students affected by such discrepancies have been advised to upload their affidavits through the SLTF portal to enable the Fund to verify their identity and confirm their student status before processing their applications.

Student Loan Plus expands access

The Fund’s support extends beyond the regular student loan programme.

Through Students Loan Plus, eligible students can access larger loans to cover their educational needs. Earlier in 2026, the SLTF said the initiative had benefited more than 1,400 students, including hundreds of law students, with payments made directly to their institutions.

The programme has also been expanded to support students at the Ghana School of Law.

Bigger financial commitment ahead

The latest disclosure points to a growing financial commitment to tertiary education financing in Ghana.

With expenditure projected to rise from about GH¢600 million this year to nearly GH¢800 million next academic year, the SLTF is preparing for a higher level of demand from students and institutions.

The Fund says its focus remains on using technology and expanded financing mechanisms to ensure that eligible students can access the support they need.

As the next academic year approaches, the big question will be how effectively the projected GH¢800 million can be deployed to reach more students while keeping the application, verification and disbursement process smooth.

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the formation of an inter-agency task force to develop a detailed roadmap to strengthen Ghana’s efforts to prevent narcotic drugs from being trafficked through the country’s borders.

The directive followed an urgent meeting between the President and security chiefs on Thursday, September 17, over recent drug-trafficking cases involving Ghana’s ports.

The meeting reviewed ongoing investigations into the movement of narcotics through the ports, as well as the security structures and systems currently in place at Ghana’s borders.

According to the Presidency, President Mahama was informed that 10 people are currently being held in connection with the investigations.

Four of those in custody are officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The identities of the 10 individuals and the specific allegations against them were not disclosed.

Following the briefing, the meeting considered additional measures to strengthen Ghana’s systems for detecting and preventing narcotics trafficking.

President Mahama subsequently directed the establishment of an inter-agency task force to translate the recommendations from the meeting into a detailed roadmap.

The task force has been given two weeks to complete and submit the roadmap.

The move is intended to strengthen coordination among the institutions responsible for Ghana’s ports, borders, customs, intelligence and law-enforcement systems.

The meeting comes amid heightened attention to drug-trafficking cases linked to Ghana, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs authorities from a container that had departed Ghana.

The Presidency has not indicated that the 10 people being held have been found guilty of any offence.

Their detention forms part of ongoing investigations into the recent narcotic-trafficking cases.

The urgent meeting was attended by security chiefs who briefed the President on the investigations and the existing security arrangements at Ghana’s ports and borders.

The Presidency said the discussions identified the need for additional measures to address vulnerabilities within the current system.

The statement on the outcome of the meeting was issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.

The Presidency Communications statement was dated Thursday, September 17, 2026, and titled “Outcome of Urgent Meeting on Recent Narcotic Trafficking Cases.”

The Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested seven suspects allegedly linked to a robbery network operating across Zebilla, Garu and Binduri, following an intelligence-led operation in the region.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 41, are Issaka Iddrisu, 20; Ali Tamimu, 21; Akugre Amobila, 26; Banabas Apiiga, 41; Abdul-Rashid Adamu, 38; Apiiga Alebena, 21; and Bilal Adabodee, 31.

According to the Police, the arrests were carried out through a joint intelligence operation involving the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PID), the newly formed Black Cobra Unit and the Zebilla Neighbourhood Watch Community.

Suspects allegedly linked to wider robbery network

The Police said the suspects have reportedly confessed to being members of a wider network of gangs involved in armed robbery activities within the three communities.

Investigators are also pursuing information provided by the suspects about an alleged weapons supplier believed to be operating from Bawku.

The Police said the identity of the alleged supplier has been withheld as efforts continue to locate and arrest the person.

Victims identify two suspects

The case took a significant turn after two victims reported to the Police following the arrests.

The victims allegedly identified two of the suspects as members of a three-man armed robbery gang that attacked them at gunpoint.

According to the Police, the robbers made away with two Yamaha scooter motorbikes valued at GH¢30,000 and GH¢32,000 respectively.

The victims also told investigators that the attackers threatened to kill them if they reported the incident to the authorities.

The Police said the two suspects subsequently admitted to taking part in the robbery and provided information about the alleged source of the weapons used during the operation.

Police raid houses, recover cash and motorbikes

Searches conducted at the residences of Abdul-Rashid Adamu, Apiiga Alebena and Bilal Adabodee reportedly yielded several items of interest to investigators.

The Police said they recovered two unregistered motorbikes, quantities of suspected hard drugs and GH¢29,550 in cash.

The cash is believed by investigators to be proceeds from criminal activities, although the circumstances surrounding the items will form part of the ongoing investigation.

Seven suspects remanded

Following their arrests, all seven suspects were brought before the Bolgatanga Circuit Court.

The court has since remanded them into Police custody.

They are expected to reappear on September 23, 2026, as investigations continue.

Police intensify hunt for alleged weapons supplier

With the seven suspects now in custody, the Police have intensified efforts to identify and apprehend the person they allegedly named as their source of weapons.

The development is expected to help investigators determine whether the arrests have uncovered a broader organised robbery network operating across communities in the Upper East Region.

The Police Command says the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on robbery activities and improve security in Zebilla, Garu, Binduri and surrounding areas.

For now, seven suspects are behind bars, while investigators continue the hunt for other persons allegedly connected to the robbery network.

Businesses, regulators and financial sector players are set to converge in Accra as the Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting turns the spotlight on one of the biggest challenges facing companies engaged in international trade — moving money across borders efficiently.

The upcoming breakfast meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, will bring together regulators, financial institutions, traders and business leaders to explore practical solutions to the challenges surrounding cross-border payments.

The meeting is being held under the theme: “Moving Money. Moving Trade. Moving Ghana. – Making It Easier to Buy, Sell and Pay Across Borders.”

High payment costs, delays put businesses under pressure

Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Chidinma Braye-Yankee, said efficient cross-border payment systems have become increasingly important as Ghanaian businesses expand their trading relationships across Africa, China and other international markets.

She identified delays, high transaction costs, multiple intermediaries, foreign exchange challenges and limited payment transparency as some of the difficulties confronting businesses involved in international trade.

According to her, businesses need payment systems that can move funds faster, more cheaply and more reliably.

She stressed that efficient cross-border payments should no longer be viewed merely as a banking concern, but as an important part of supporting trade and economic growth.

China-Ghana trade takes centre stage

A major focus of the discussions will be how Ghanaian businesses can make payments to Chinese suppliers more efficiently.

Stanbic Bank Ghana recently introduced direct access to China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), allowing eligible customers to settle transactions denominated in Chinese Yuan directly through the bank.

The service is expected to reduce reliance on intermediary banks and help address some of the delays associated with traditional international payment channels.

The development is particularly relevant to Ghanaian importers, given China’s importance as a trading partner.

PAPSS, SWIFT and CIPS in the spotlight

The breakfast meeting will also examine payment infrastructure supporting international and regional transactions.

Among the systems expected to feature in the conversation are the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), SWIFT, and Stanbic Bank’s capabilities under CIPS.

PAPSS was developed to facilitate faster and more efficient cross-border payments for intra-African trade, while CIPS provides infrastructure for cross-border transactions denominated in Renminbi.

For businesses, the broader objective is to make international transactions less complicated while improving transparency, security and reliability.

Top business voices to join the discussion

The meeting will feature a panel involving key players from the banking and business sectors.

The panellists include Mush Abdallah, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana; Dr Paa Kwesi Eduaful Abaidoo, Sustainability Manager at Miniplast Ltd; and Dr Nana Kwesi Amoako, Sales Director, Business to Business West Africa at Kasapreko PLC.

Their discussions are expected to provide practical perspectives on the challenges businesses face when buying, selling and making payments across international borders.

Security cannot be ignored

While faster payment systems can make international trade easier, Stanbic Bank has stressed that efficiency must go hand in hand with security.

According to Braye-Yankee, the growing reliance on digital payment channels makes it increasingly important for businesses to have systems that are not only fast but also secure and trusted.

The issue of digital fraud has featured prominently in previous Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meetings, with stakeholders highlighting the need for stronger public awareness and vigilance alongside investments in technology and security systems.

Making cross-border trade easier

The September 22 meeting comes at a time when Ghanaian businesses are increasingly looking beyond the domestic market for suppliers, customers and investment opportunities.

For importers and exporters, the ability to move money quickly and securely can directly affect transaction costs, delivery timelines and overall competitiveness.

Stanbic Bank’s Africa-China trade solutions also include trade financing and payment and collection services aimed at helping businesses manage the risks associated with cross-border transactions.

The upcoming Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting is therefore expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine how Ghana can strengthen its payment infrastructure and make cross-border commerce more efficient.

At the heart of the discussion will be a simple but increasingly important question: how can Ghana make it easier for businesses to buy, sell and pay across borders while keeping transactions affordable, secure and reliable?