Ghanaian Students Stranded in UK Due to Unpaid Tuition Fees from Government
More than 50 Ghanaian scholarship students in the UK are in crisis due to unpaid tuition fees by the Ghanaian government, risking their graduation and financial stability. Despite a meeting aimed at resolving these issues, students now need to cover their own fees and have turned to crowdfunding to avoid expulsion. The deadline set by their universities for payment adds pressure to an already stressful situation.
In a troubling development, over 50 Ghanaian students on government scholarships find themselves stranded in the UK due to unpaid tuition fees that the Government of Ghana has not settled. David Farman, a spokesperson representing these students, expressed deep concerns about their situation during an interview with Joy News. He highlighted that since October 2024, many have faced significant anxiety following emails from their universities regarding outstanding fees covered under the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat’s sponsorship.
Farman stated, “Since last year, October, we received emails from the university concerning the payment of fees. Unfortunately, the issue has not been resolved to date.” He noted that students had been hopeful after an April 6 meeting between university officials and the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, but a week later, they received disappointing news. A follow-up email revealed that the talks with Ghanaian officials yielded no solid agreements, leaving students to be responsible for their fees.
“We had that engagement and we realized that the Secretariat had agreed with the University to make 10% of the total debt, but the university rejected that offer,” Farman explained. He illustrated the confusion arising from the university’s stance, pointing out that due to the refusal of the 10% payment, the burden of the remaining 90% has shifted to the students.
The universities have categorized the students based on their financial debts. Farman elaborated that if a student has no debt, they can graduate and receive their certificate. However, those with debts less than £500 can graduate too, but will not be issued a certificate. This situation poses a grave concern for many students, especially those who were originally promised full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend of about £10.
Farman indicated that since arriving in the UK—some students as early as September 2023 and others in January 2024—none have received their stipulated fees or stipends. He noted, “It was a Ghana Scholarship Secretariat Scholarship which is the popular GSS scholarship, and the scholarship covered fees being paid and in a monthly stipend of around £10.” The students also attempted to escalate the issue to the Audit Service when matters worsened.
Moreover, Farman clarified the university’s refusal to accept the 10% partial payment proposed by the Secretariat, which led to the current impasse. In a desperate bid to avoid expulsion or forfeiting the chance to graduate, students are now turning toward crowdfunding to raise the necessary funds.
“We are hoping to raise over £400,000. If each student gets about £9,000 in public support, it could ease the burden significantly,” he explained, noting that their GoFundMe account was only recently established following the engagement with the university. Farman has appealed to Ghanaians, businesses, and philanthropists for support, as the university has set a strict deadline of June 1, 2025, to settle all debts or face serious consequences.
The situation for these Ghanaian students is dire, with unpaid tuition fees jeopardizing their education and future prospects. Despite attempts to engage the university and the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, no resolution has been reached. As a last resort, students are now fundraising, hoping to alleviate the financial burden and avoid expulsion or delays in graduation. The deadline imposed by the university adds further urgency to their plea for assistance.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
