The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has spent about GH¢600 million in 2026 on programmes supporting tertiary students and other beneficiaries, with the amount expected to rise to nearly GH¢800 million in the next academic year.
The disclosure was made by SLTF Chief Executive Officer Dr Saajida Shiraz during the Sixth International Conference of the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) in Accra.
The expenditure covers several education financing programmes, including the Students Loan, Students Loan Plus, teacher-trainee allowances, the No Academic Fees initiative and support for persons with disabilities pursuing tertiary education.
Nearly GH¢800m expected for 2026/27
According to Dr Shiraz, the SLTF expects its expenditure to increase significantly during the 2026/27 academic year.
The Fund is projecting expenditure of close to GH¢800 million, reflecting the expected increase in the number of students and programmes requiring financial support.
The projection comes as the SLTF prepares to expand its digital systems and introduce additional financing options for students.
Dr Shiraz said the Fund was targeting close to 200,000 beneficiaries for the 2026/27 academic year, while also expecting about 80,000 loan applications.
Students Loan Trust Spends GH¢600m as GH¢800m Targeted for Students [DETAILS]
Digital loans to help students buy devices
One of the developments that could attract significant interest among students is the planned restructuring and reintroduction of the SLTF’s digital product loan scheme.
The scheme is intended to enable students to obtain financing to purchase digital products needed for their education.
The move comes as laptops, tablets and other digital devices increasingly become important tools for university and tertiary education.
The SLTF also says its loan systems will be fully digitalised beginning in the current academic year.
Under the new system, students will be able to sign loan agreements online, potentially reducing some of the administrative steps involved in accessing student financing.
169,000 students already covered under No Academic Fees
The SLTF also provided an update on the No Academic Fees programme.
Dr Shiraz said the Fund had so far disbursed support to 169,000 students under the initiative, with a projection of approximately 175,000 beneficiaries for the programme.
Earlier figures from the SLTF showed that the No Fees Stress initiative had already reached more than 101,000 first-year students by May 2026, after additional beneficiaries were added to the programme.
The programme has become one of the major components of Ghana’s tertiary education financing system, particularly for students entering public tertiary institutions.
What students should know
The latest announcement means prospective beneficiaries should pay attention to information released by the SLTF as the 2026/27 academic year progresses.
Students applying for loans will need to ensure that their personal and academic information is correctly captured and verified.
The Fund has previously warned that mismatched identification information can delay the processing of applications and reimbursements.
The SLTF has also continued efforts to digitise its application and verification processes.
The bigger picture
The latest expenditure figures highlight the growing scale of tertiary education financing in Ghana.
In June, the SLTF said it had received GH¢537 million for the No Fees Stress programme and reported that more than 300,000 students had benefited from the initiative at that point, across different academic periods.
The Fund’s latest projection therefore points to continued expansion of financial support as more students seek assistance with tuition and other education-related expenses.
Students Loan Trust Spends GH¢600m as GH¢800m Targeted for Students – Key details at a glance
- GH¢600m: Approximate SLTF spending in 2026.
- GH¢800m: Projected expenditure for the 2026/27 academic year.
- 200,000: Approximate target for beneficiaries.
- 80,000: Expected loan applications.
- 169,000: Students reported to have benefited from No Academic Fees so far.
- Digital loans: Planned financing support for students buying digital products.
- Online agreements: Loan agreements are expected to be signed digitally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the Students Loan Trust Fund spent in 2026?
The SLTF says it has spent approximately GH¢600 million across its education financing programmes in 2026.
How much does the SLTF expect to spend next academic year?
The Fund is projecting expenditure of close to GH¢800 million for the 2026/27 academic year.
Will students be able to get loans for digital devices?
The SLTF says it is restructuring and reintroducing a digital product loan scheme that will enable students to obtain financing for digital products.
The expansion of student financing and digital loan services is expected to remain an important issue as Ghana prepares for the next academic year.
