A total of 185 Ghanaian students studying at the University of Memphis in the United States under the Ghana Government Scholarship Scheme are said to be stranded and facing the threat of academic dismissal and immigration complications due to delay in payment of a purported $3.6 Million debt.
According to one Lambert Donkor, the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat currently owes the University $3.6 million, yet only $400,000 has been paid to date. In response, the University of Memphis has issued a formal warning indicating that the affected students may be forced to discontinue their studies by Fall 2025 if the debt remains unpaid.
The consequences are not limited to academic disruption. These students could lose their student visa status, putting them at risk of deportation and permanently derailing their future careers.
“These are not private students. We were selected by the Government of Ghana and given letters confirming full scholarship support. Today, we’ve been left alone to fight for our future,” said one of the affected students.
They allege that despite several formal letters and appeals sent by the leadership of the Ghanaian Students’ Association at the University of Memphis to: The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, The Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Office of the Chief of Staff, and the Office of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, no concrete solution or official commitment has been made to resolve the crisis.
“This pressing situation not only threatens the educational and personal well-being of these 185 students but also raises serious questions about Ghana’s global image and commitment to education and youth empowerment,” the students lament.
They appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and direct the necessary agencies to release funds and resolve the debt immediately.
“The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat to provide clear communication and take full responsibility for their sponsored students abroad. Parliament and its relevant committees to investigate the status of Ghanaian students on scholarship globally and ensure proper oversight. The Ghanaian public, civil society organizations, and media to support the call for swift action and accountability,” they urged.
