Dozens of Ghanaian government-sponsored PhD students in the United Kingdom are facing possible deportation and withdrawal from their universities due to the government’s delay in the payment of their tuition fees and stipends.
In a petition to Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Zita Benson, the affected students, sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS), said many of them have not received payments for periods ranging from four months to as long as 48 months.
According to the PhD Students’ Executive in the UK, about 110 students are currently studying under the scholarship scheme, excluding one member who recently died after a prolonged illness. They said the situation has left several of their colleagues unable to enrol for the new academic year, access their student portals, or graduate.
“Some of our members have completed their courses but cannot graduate. Others attended graduation ceremonies but were denied certificates due to unpaid fees,” the group stated.
The students noted that while some payments had been made recently by the Scholarships Secretariat, the funds were insufficient to address the growing debts. Data gathered from 86 members indicates that at least 30 students have received no payment at all for the 2024/2025 academic year.
They estimate that about £400,000 is required to sustain their studies for the 2025/2026 academic year. Already, around 10 students have been withdrawn from their universities and are awaiting possible deportation notices from the UK Home Office.
The group further disclosed that some of their colleagues have been evicted from their homes or are facing legal proceedings for unpaid rent. Others, who must travel to Ghana for data collection, cannot do so because they lack funds or risk being barred from re-entering the UK due to visa and tuition complications.
They also expressed concern over delays in scholarship renewals, progression reviews, and issuance of renewal letters, processes essential for re-enrolment.
“For nearly ten months, we have had neither progression reviews nor renewal letters from the GSS. Thirty-six of our members urgently need these letters to register for the current academic year,” they said.
The students also appealed for the issuance of Letters of No Objection (LONO), which allow scholars to gain two years of industry experience before returning to Ghana. Ten students are currently unable to proceed with this opportunity due to administrative delays.
While acknowledging ongoing reforms to the scholarship system, the group stressed that beneficiaries should not suffer because of bureaucratic failures.
“We believe students should not face the consequences of administrative errors and indiscretions made by public officials,” the statement read.
They appealed to High Commissioner Zita Benson and President John Dramani Mahama to intervene urgently to ensure the payment of outstanding stipends and tuition fees.
“We are appealing to the High Commissioner and the President to assist in securing an immediate resolution and redress to the issue, as has been done with other inherited statutory liabilities,” the statement added.
