Fresher Celebrates Long Christmas Break, Compares Reopening Date to Other Schools

Fresher Celebrates Long Christmas Break, Compares Reopening Date to Other Schools

  • A newly admitted University of Ghana fresher sparked online buzz after celebrating UG’s long Christmas break
  • Social media users who chanced upon the TikTok video flooded the comments with humour and admiration, with some debating her assertions
  • UG management has also defended the recent fee adjustments, explaining that SRC and GRASAG charges, not university policy, largely accounted for the increase

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

A young Ghanaian woman has taken social media by storm after sharing her excitement over the University of Ghana’s Christmas break, a development that quickly set timelines abuzz.

University of Ghana, Top tertiary institutions in Ghana, Education, freshers, newly admitted university students, campus, Legon, UG, people
Newly admitted University of Ghana students rejoice as they enjoy the longest Christmas break among top schools in Ghana. Image credit: Getty Images, political.vibes3/TikTok
Source: UGC

In a short but expressive TikTok video shared via @political.vibes3, the newly admitted UG student celebrated what she described as an enviable academic calendar.

Rather than keeping the joy private, the fresher confidently placed UG side by side with other top universities in Ghana, drawing sharp contrasts in reopening dates.

With visible excitement, the student highlighted that while some institutions were set to resume academic activities much earlier, UG freshers were scheduled to reopen on January 18, 2026, giving them what many described as a generous holiday window.

Read also

Ghanaians react to UG grading system, stir nationwide discussion

The comparison immediately struck a chord, especially among students across various campuses.

Watch the TikTok video below.

Reactions to UG’s long Christmas break

Ghanaians have thronged the comment section to share their views on the reopening dates for freshers across various schools.

Uhm_Riley 💕🫧🩶 wrote:

"Any UG fresher here? Let’s be friends 😊."

Miss Pris 🎀🎀 shared:

"UENR some of us are going on the 9th 😩."

🦋 Nana ~🖤 Afia 🫂💗 added:

"Any TTU freshers here? 👋"

𝕴𝖆𝖒𝖉𝖗𝖎𝖕𝖈𝖔𝖎𝖓 wrote:

"Hope I can get UPSA freshers here. Please say hi, I beg 😂😂😂."

Aj Emphatic added:

"TTU, let’s make friends ☺️☺️."

CASFORD BOY ZOLY 🚩🚩🚩🚩 wrote:

"My UCC people ❤️❤️❤️."

UG Pro Vice-Chancellor defends fee increase

In other developments, the University of Ghana (UG) have addressed concerns surrounding a reported 25% increase in academic fees for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Read also

Pro Vice-Chancellor defends fee hike, argues it is driven by SRC and GRASAG charges

Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Gordon Awandare, School fees, UG SRC, Students Representative Council, Graduate Students Association of Ghana, GRASAC
Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Gordon Awandare, explains that SRC and GRASAG bills led to the fee hike. Image credit: Getty Images, ACE
Source: UGC

Clarifying recent reports, a senior university official noted that most of the additional costs stem from student-led initiatives rather than management decisions.

The provisional fee schedule, which drew significant attention, reflects fees imposed by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG).

These funds are earmarked for student programmes and activities, designed to enrich campus life and support academic and social events.

University of Ghana management explains fee adjustments

Speaking with Citi News on Friday, January 2, Professor Gordon Awandare, UG’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, explained the university’s limited control over these third-party fees.

Professor Awandare further defended the overall fee structure. He highlighted that GH¢ 2,000 for a full academic year remains reasonable considering rising operational costs. Student-led adjustments were deemed necessary to reflect current economic realities and the cost of running their programmes.

“When you look at fees of about GH¢ 2,000 for an entire academic year at Ghana’s premier university, it is difficult to describe them as excessive. Utilities and operational costs have increased significantly, yet university fees have largely remained unchanged since 2022. Even students recognised the previous levels were no longer realistic,” he added.

Read also

KNUST releases orientation details for newly admitted students

UG management stressed that these necessary adjustments reflect current financial realities rather than unilateral university decisions. He encouraged students to engage directly with SRC or GRASAG leadership to clarify any concerns and ensure open and transparent dialogue.

University of Ghana, Ghanaian Students, Ghanaian School, Legon, academic fees
University of Ghana reportedly increases 2025/26 academic fees by over 25 percent. Photo credit: University of Ghana/Facebook.
Source: Getty Images

Breakdown of UG academic fee increments

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported the increment in fees for University of Ghana students, sparking concerns among the student body about rising costs.

In the absence of an official explanation, many students expressed reservations over the sudden increase in academic fees, questioning how it would affect their financial planning and ability to continue their studies.

According to the report, level 100 first-year students in the College of Humanities will now pay GH¢3,110, a 34 per cent rise from GH¢2,319 in 2024/2025, while continuing students will pay GH¢2,253, marking a 27 per cent increase from GH¢1,777.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Ruth Sekyi avatar

Ruth Sekyi (Entertainment Editor) Ruth Esi Amfua Sekyi is a Human Interest Editor at YEN.com.gh with 4+ years' experience across radio, print, TV, and digital media. She holds a B.A. in Communications (PR) from UNIMAC-IJ. Her media career began at Radio GIJ (campus radio), followed by Prime News Ghana. At InstinctWave, she worked on business content, playing major role in events organized by the company. She also worked with ABC News GH, updating their site, served as Production Assistant. In 2025, Ruth completed the ECOWAS, GIZ, and MFWA Information Integrity training. Email: ruth.sekyi@yen.com.gh