Ghanaian students studying in the United Kingdom under a government scholarship programme say they are facing possible deportation, academic withdrawal, and severe financial hardship due to prolonged delays in the payment of tuition and stipends.
The situation has drawn attention in Parliament, where the Minority—led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin—is demanding immediate government action to settle outstanding arrears owed to students in both the UK and the United States.
According to the Minority, unpaid obligations for PhD students alone are estimated at about GH¢56 million, covering tuition fees and living allowances.
Several affected students have reportedly received formal warnings from institutions such as University of Wolverhampton and De Montfort University. These notices caution that continued non-payment could lead to withdrawal from academic programmes. In some cases, universities have also indicated that students’ visas could be affected if their enrolment status is compromised.
Speaking to Citi News, Prince Komla Bansah, President of the UK PhD cohort, described the situation as worsening, with some students enduring up to 40 months without stipends or fee payments.
He explained that the problem extends across more than 20 universities, with many students already withdrawn from their programmes due to non-payment. Others, he said, have been reported to UK immigration authorities, raising the risk of deportation.
Bansah added that uncertainty has left many students in distress, as some are unable to re-enrol or regularise their academic status. Daily reports of warning letters and official communications from universities have heightened anxiety among affected students.
The crisis highlights ongoing challenges with the administration of government-sponsored scholarships, with calls mounting for swift intervention to prevent long-term academic and legal consequences for Ghanaian students abroad.
Source: Africa Publicity
