We draw the nation’s attention to the disturbing plight of our young compatriots studying abroad on Ghana Government Scholarships. These bright men and women are facing harrowing challenges that have led to personal and national humiliation.
The failure of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led NPP government to honor its basic obligations to our students has not only jeopardized their futures but has also cast our nation in a negative light.
These students, granted scholarships to pursue higher education at prestigious institutions in the United Kingdom, are now grappling with dire circumstances. Instead of celebrating academic success and contributing to national development, many face the threat of expulsion and deportation due to unpaid tuition fees.
The Failure of Government and Ghana’s Tarnished Image:
It is unacceptable that the government, having promised to support these students, has left them in such vulnerable and desperate situations. The delay in paying tuition fees has resulted in numerous students being withdrawn from their courses, while others face potential deportation.
Even more concerning, many PhD students have not received stipends for 27 months, since enrolling in September/October 2021. This has forced them into dehumanizing situations just to survive abroad.
Additionally, several PhD students who enrolled in September/October 2020, January/April 2021, and graduate students from April to September 2021, have outstanding stipends and tuition fees despite having completed their studies.
Reports indicate a dire state of desperation. Some male students are resorting to selling their sperm for £150 to £250, while some female students, out of sheer necessity, are being driven into exploitative relationships just to secure housing or make ends meet. No Ghanaian student should endure such indignities, yet this has become the norm for many of our young scholars under this government’s watch.
The statistics are stark. Investigations reveal that 927 students pursuing postgraduate degrees (785 Master’s and 142 PhDs) are suffering from this neglect, with an estimated £17,613,000 owed in tuition fees alone—excluding unpaid stipends for basic sustenance.
The government’s failure to meet its financial obligations has forced some universities to withdraw their support and cancel Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat. The magnitude of this problem cannot be overstated; the longer it persists, the more damage it does to our national image and the trust Ghanaians have in government institutions.
Demands for Immediate Action:
Given the severity of this crisis, we call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join us in making the following urgent demands on the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government on behalf of our distressed students:
Immediate Payment of Tuition Fees and Stipends: The government must promptly settle all outstanding tuition fees and stipends owed to Ghanaian students abroad. The future of these students—and, by extension, the future of Ghana—should not be jeopardized due to gross negligence.
Renegotiation of MOUs with Foreign Universities: The government must urgently reopen negotiations with affected universities and the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat that have been canceled due to non-payment of fees and stipends. Restoring these relationships is critical to ensuring future students are not denied the opportunity to study abroad and return to support our nation’s development due to this government’s reckless mismanagement.
The neglect of these students is not just a betrayal of individuals; it is a betrayal of the nation as a whole. These students are expected to return home with the knowledge and skills needed to drive national development. The government’s failure to support them jeopardizes not only their futures but the future of Ghana itself.
Conclusion:
We stand with the students and their families, and we will continue to use all available avenues to hold this government accountable. The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government must act immediately to avoid further national embarrassment and irreversible damage to the future of our youth.
Ghana’s youth deserve better. The future of our country demands it. It is for this reason that the next NDC government, led by HE John Dramani Mahama, seeks the mandate of Ghanaians to introduce legislation that will usher in a new era of government scholarship administration.
This new scholarship regime will be transparent, prohibit the award of scholarships to government officials, and streamline scholarships across multiple sectors, eliminating the current uncoordinated system.
Signed, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on Education Committee of Parliament
