Dozens of Ghanaian government-sponsored PhD students in the United Kingdom risk deportation and withdrawal from their universities following prolonged delays in the payment of their tuition and stipends by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS).
In a petition addressed to Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Zita Benson, the affected students said they have gone without financial support for periods ranging from four months to as long as 48 months.
According to the PhD Students’ Executive in the UK, about 110 scholars are currently on the government’s scholarship scheme, excluding one member who recently passed away after a long illness. The statement noted that the delays have left many 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.
While acknowledging that the GSS has made some recent payments, the students said the funds were insufficient to offset the mounting arrears. Data gathered from 86 members shows that at least 30 have not received any payments for the 2024/2025 academic year.
They estimate that about £400,000 will be required to sustain their studies in the 2025/2026 academic year. Already, around 10 students have been withdrawn from their universities and face possible deportation notices from the UK Home Office.
The students added that some of their colleagues have been evicted from accommodation or are facing legal proceedings over unpaid rent. Others, they said, cannot travel to Ghana for data collection due to financial constraints or the risk of losing their visas upon re-entry.
They also cited delays in renewal letters and progression reviews, essential for registration and continuation of their programs.
“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.
In addition, ten students have been unable to pursue post-study opportunities due to the delayed issuance of Letters of No Objection (LONO), which allow graduates to gain two years of work experience before returning home.
While welcoming ongoing reforms to the scholarship system, the group insisted that students should not bear the cost of bureaucratic inefficiency.
“We believe students should not face the consequences of administrative errors and indiscretions made by public officials,” the statement read.
The students appealed to both High Commissioner Zita Benson and President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and facilitate the immediate release of outstanding funds.
“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,” they added.
