President Mahama launches Free Tertiary Education for persons with disabilities

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 digitalised Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Speaking at the official launch of the programme in Accra, the President explained that the initiative marks a significant step towards advancing equality and inclusion in Ghana’s education system.

He noted that while the National Service Authority had previously administered limited scholarships for persons with disabilities, the new framework would consolidate and expand these efforts under a more coordinated and accessible system.

“The implementation of this initiative will be led by the revamped Students Loan Trust Fund, which is now modernised and digitalised to ensure transparency, efficiency, and sustainability,” President Mahama said.

He added that the government is integrating the former National Scholarship Authority’s disability scholarships into a new Universal Disability Scholarship Scheme under the SLTF, thereby streamlining the process and broadening access for eligible students.

“Let me note that the National Service Authority had administered a limited scholarship for persons with disability in the past. But with this launch today, we are integrating the scholarship by the National Scholarship Authority in the past with the new universal disability scholarship under the Students Loan Trust Fund,” he explained.

President Mahama emphasised that the initiative represents a moral and constitutional commitment to fairness and inclusion rather than an act of benevolence.

“This initiative is not an act of charity; it is an act of justice and equality,” he declared.

Source: myjoyonline.com