Government Pledges Support for Sustainable Research in Tertiary Institutions
Accra, Ghana - 29 June, 2025 - Ghana's government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable research base in the country's universities and colleges. Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang announced the establishment of the National Research Fund, which comes with an initial seed money of GHS 50,000. The fund aims to support research initiatives in the nation's tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) graduation ceremony in Kumasi, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang revealed that the government will also launch a policy to absorb the fees of all first-year students at public tertiary institutions on July 4, 2025.
According to her, nearly 130,000 students have registered on the Students' Loan Trust Fund portal, with over 100,000 completing their applications.
“Statistics from the Students’ Loan Trust Fund, which manages the portal, show that by mid‑June nearly 130,000 students had registered and more than 100,000 had completed their applications,” she said.
The Vice-President assured universities of full academic freedom, while emphasizing the importance of compliance with institutional statutes and national laws.
She praised KNUST for its contributions to the country's technological and research advancement.
The KNUST graduation ceremony, which saw 8,161 students graduate, including 118 PhD candidates, was attended by special guest King Mswati III of Eswatini.
In his address to the graduates, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, acting as KNUST Chancellor, urged the graduates to use their knowledge to advance society. He also appealed to the government to complete the KNUST Teaching Hospital, which has been under construction for 18 years, and to provide better incentives to retain university lecturers and curb the brain drain.
King Mswati III thanked Ghana for educating citizens of Eswatini and encouraged his compatriots to respect local customs while learning Ghanaian culture.
Source: Lead News Online
