In a significant push to shore up the finances of Ghana’s student loan scheme, the government will begin deducting outstanding repayments directly from the salaries of more than 4,000 public sector workers beginning July 2026, a move that signals a tougher stance on loan defaulters.
The Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), which has struggled to meet its recovery targets, confirmed the arrangement following a partnership with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
Chief Executive Dr Saajida Shiraz told Joy FM that the deductions will target public sector employees who have benefited from the scheme but have failed to honour their repayment obligations.
The scale of the recovery challenge came into sharp focus when the Fund disclosed that while GH¢300 million was due in repayments last year, it managed to collect only GH¢90 million, falling far short of its GH¢120 million target.
“We are working through the modalities,” Dr Shiraz said, expressing optimism that the July start date would mark a turning point. She stressed that the sustainability of the Fund hinges on a robust recovery culture: “When you pay back your student loan, we can help other students benefit from it.”
The SLTF is not stopping at salary deductions. In a bid to cast a wider net, the Fund has opened talks with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to establish a data-sharing framework that would help track borrowers outside the public sector, including those in private employment or self-employment.
For many beneficiaries, the deductions will come as a wake-up call. For the Fund, it represents a critical lifeline to ensure that future generations of Ghanaian students do not miss out on tertiary education due to a lack of resources.
With the July deadline now set, all eyes will be on the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to implement the deductions seamlessly, and on the GRA to unlock the data needed to pursue defaulters beyond the government payroll.
