President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the newly launched Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities initiative will be implemented through a revamped and fully digitalized Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), which has been redesigned to ensure transparency, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Speaking at the official launch of the programme in Accra, President Mahama described the initiative as a major milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to promote equality, inclusion, and empowerment within the education sector. He explained that education remains one of the most effective tools for breaking barriers and enabling persons with disabilities to participate fully in national development.
The President noted that although the National Service Authority had previously managed a limited scholarship scheme for persons with disabilities, the new framework will consolidate, expand, and modernize those efforts. Under the new structure, the government will integrate the former National Scholarship Authority’s disability scholarships into a comprehensive Universal Disability Scholarship Scheme, administered by the SLTF. This will create a more coordinated and accessible system that allows beneficiaries to apply and track their support digitally.
“The implementation of this initiative will be led by the revamped Students Loan Trust Fund, which is now modernized and digitalized to ensure transparency, efficiency, and sustainability,” President Mahama said.
He further emphasized that the programme is not an act of charity but a moral and constitutional obligation to guarantee equal opportunity for all citizens. By removing financial barriers, he said, the government aims to ensure that every qualified Ghanaian with a disability can pursue higher education, contribute meaningfully to society, and help build a more inclusive nation.
