Ghana-funded PhD students in UK plan protest over unpaid stipends, tuition fees
Ghanaian government-sponsored PhD students in the United Kingdom have announced plans to stage a mass protest at the Ghana High Commission in London, citing prolonged delays in the payment of stipends and tuition fees.
In a statement issued on April 6, the executive body of the PhD cohort said the demonstration would take place on Friday, April 17, at Belgrave Square, outside the High Commission.
The planned action follows months of what the students describe as unsuccessful engagements with the Ghana Scholarship Authority (GSA) and the High Commissioner’s office.
Students cite hardship, risk of deportation
The students say the delays have left many in precarious circumstances, including the risk of deportation, blocked access to academic portals and growing financial distress.
According to the group, most students are owed between 15 and 40 months of living allowances, while tuition fees have remained unpaid for extended periods. In some cases, universities have withdrawn affected students from their programmes.
“Currently, several students have been blocked from accessing their university learning portals due to nonpayment of tuition fees,” the statement read. “There are hundreds of students who have been reported to debt management agencies to recover the tuition fees they owe to universities.”
The group added that the situation has deteriorated to the point where some students are now “living in a deplorable state and feeding from food banks.”
Renewals delayed, academic progress stalled
The students further indicated that renewal letters—required for continuing enrolment—have not been issued for more than 15 months.
They noted that eight months into the 2025/2026 academic year, no renewal letters have been released, effectively preventing many from registering or continuing their studies.
The cohort estimates that the GSA owes PhD students alone a total of GH¢56 million in unpaid stipends and tuition fees.
Unfulfilled assurances
Earlier this year, the students suspended plans to protest after meeting with the Ghana High Commissioner, who assured them that the issues would be resolved by mid-February.
However, the group said none of the five concerns presented at the meeting had been addressed.
They also expressed concern over government funding to the Scholarship Authority. Although GH¢256 million was reportedly allocated for the first quarter, the students claim information available to them suggests that only GH¢37 million may be released.
“We are extremely concerned about this development, given the scale of the challenges students in the UK face,” the statement said. “Moreover, this amount cannot even meet the budgetary needs of PhD students, let alone pay other cohorts.”
Planned protest and next steps
The protest is expected to include a demonstration at the High Commission, followed by a picketing exercise near the British Parliament, where the students intend to engage Members of Parliament.
They also plan to proceed to the headquarters of the BBC to grant media interviews.
The group said its actions are grounded in Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the UK Human Rights Act 1998, describing the protest as a legitimate exercise of democratic rights after exhausting diplomatic channels.
The students warned that if their concerns are not addressed, a second demonstration would be held on May 31, 2026, when the President of Ghana is expected to be in the UK.
They added that the planned protest could be called off only if the government urgently releases funds to the Scholarship Authority and evidence of payment is seen before April 17.
