Students Loan Trust disburses GH¢600m this year — CEO

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.