The University of Ghana has clarified that the reported increase in academic fees for the 2025/2026 academic year is largely driven by charges introduced by student leadership rather than decisions taken by university management.
The explanation comes after students raised concerns about a steep rise of more than 25 per cent in fees across various colleges.
Both fresh and continuing students have questioned the provisional fee schedule, which shows noticeable increases compared to previous years.
According to the university, a significant portion of the additional cost is linked to third party charges approved by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG).
These fees are meant to fund student programmes, welfare activities and administrative operations managed by the student bodies themselves.
Management has therefore encouraged students who are unhappy with the increases to direct their concerns to their SRC or GRASAG leaders, noting that the university has limited control over those components of the fees.
Speaking in an interview, Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Gordon Awandare said, “What is being reported as fee increases relates to third party fees imposed by student leadership”.
“These are fees approved through their own governance structures and communicated to students earlier.
University management did not impose these fees, and students who have concerns should engage their SRC or GRASAG leadership.”
The university also maintains that its own academic fees have remained relatively stable despite rising utility bills and operational costs.
Management says fees have not seen major adjustments since 2022, even as economic pressures have mounted nationwide.
UG insists the current situation reflects broader economic realities and internal student decisions, rather than a deliberate attempt by the university to burden students financially.
