Students Loan Trust disburses GH¢600m in 2026 – CEO

The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) disbursed approximately GH¢600 million in 2026 to various initiatives, including the Students' Loan, Students Loan Plus, allowance for teacher trainees, fee waivers, and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities. CEO Dr Saadija Shiraz revealed that the fund's spending on these programs would increase to nearly GH¢800 million in the following academic year.

Speaking at the Sixth AAHEFA International Conference in Accra, Dr Shiraz attributed the success of these initiatives to the government's support, particularly President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to education and tertiary education financing. The SLTF disbursed 169,000 scholarships to students this year, with a projection of 175,000 for the current year.

The trust fund is also leveraging technology to streamline its operations, including the planned digitalization of loan systems to facilitate easier access to student financing for purchasing digital products. Dr John Machayi, President of the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AHEFA), emphasized the importance of viewing higher education funding as an investment in human capital, urging African governments to prioritize the needs of student financing agencies to produce graduates who are valuable assets to their respective nations.