Ghanaian PhD students sponsored by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS) in the United Kingdom have warned they may stage demonstrations in the coming weeks unless the government releases funds to clear months of unpaid tuition fees and stipends.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (25 February), the students said they had earlier suspended plans to protest at the Ghana High Commission in London and the British Parliament after assurances from Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK that the matter would be resolved.
Plight
The students said delays in payments and the failure to issue renewal letters had led to withdrawals from courses, reports to the UK Home Office and, in some cases, deportations.
Others, they said, were relying on food banks or support from friends to survive.
According to the statement, outstanding arrears for the PhD cohort alone amount to about 55 million cedis, with some students unpaid for nearly 40 months.
Uncertainty
At a meeting on 21 January, the High Commissioner, Zita Benson, acknowledged the problem and promised progress by mid-February, the students said.
While she has since indicated she is still pressing authorities in Accra, no resolution has been reached.
“We called off the demonstration as a sign of good faith,” the students said, adding that patience was wearing thin.
They have now appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama and the finance minister to urgently release funds, warning that further inaction could trigger protests and cause diplomatic embarrassment for Ghana.
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