Minority sounds alarm over Ghanaian scholarship students ordeal

A deepening financial crisis is threatening the education and welfare of hundreds of Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries abroad, as the Minority on Parliament’s Education Committee demands immediate and decisive government intervention to avert an international embarrassment.

According to the Minority, reports from the United States, the United Kingdom, and several Eastern European countries indicate that Ghanaian students sponsored under the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat are now facing eviction from university housing, deregistration from academic programmes, and possible deportation, due to unpaid tuition and living expenses.

Over 180 students in Memphis, Tennessee, alone are reportedly at risk of being ejected from their accommodations and losing their student visa status.

At the core of the crisis is the government’s failure to release funds for the continuous upkeep and academic engagement of these students—a move the Minority describes as a betrayal of state responsibility and a threat to Ghana’s long-standing reputation for honouring its commitments to education.

The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, established in January 1960 under the Office of the President, was envisioned as a vehicle for social mobility and national development, enabling brilliant but financially challenged Ghanaians to pursue tertiary and professional education, both locally and abroad. The program has long been seen as a vital pillar in the country’s human capital strategy.

In a passionate statement, the Minority Committee on Education, led by Offinso North MP Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, lamented the government’s silence and delay, warning that the looming July deadlines for tuition payments and housing renewals could spell disaster for hundreds of students already under extreme mental and emotional strain.

“These students did not sneak into foreign countries. They were selected by the state, issued formal letters of sponsorship, and assured of full support by the Government of Ghana. What is happening now is not just a bureaucratic lapse—it is a breach of trust and a threat to their future,” Dr. Asamoah stated.

Beyond the United States, students in the UK and Eastern Europe are also reportedly resorting to extreme measures to survive—skipping meals, borrowing money, or taking up unapproved work in breach of their visa conditions, simply to stay afloat.

The Minority highlighted the contrast between the current situation and past efforts.

In 2017, the incoming government at the time inherited an outstanding scholarship debt of $57.5 million, yet managed to prevent any student from facing deportation or deregistration.

The current administration, the Minority argued, has not shown the same level of commitment to safeguarding its students abroad.

The committee is therefore calling on President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Education, and the Scholarships Secretariat to:

Immediately release funds owed to institutions abroad,

Restore communication lines with affected universities and embassies,

Initiate transparent payment plans, and

Publicly update Ghanaians on steps being taken to resolve the crisis.

The Minority insists that this matter transcends politics, urging all stakeholders—civil society, media, faith-based groups, and the public—to rally behind the affected students and demand urgent action.

“This is not about the NDC or the NPP,” the statement emphasized. “This is about our children, our scholars, and Ghana’s moral and diplomatic integrity on the global stage. The long-term damage to our international credibility, bilateral educational cooperation, and youth morale cannot be ignored.”