A looming academic and immigration crisis for nearly 200 Ghanaian students at the University of Memphis has been temporarily averted following a $1 million payment by the Government of Ghana.
The university confirmed receipt of the partial payment from the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS), which has staved off immediate threats of eviction, loss of scholarship status, and potential deportation. The students, primarily enrolled in science, engineering, and business programs, had faced an August 9 deadline to settle outstanding fees or risk losing their academic and legal standing.
However, the situation is far from resolved. The $1 million covers only a portion of the total $3.6 million owed by the GSS under Ghana’s government scholarship programme, leaving an outstanding balance of $2.2 million.
At a press conference in Accra on July 30, GSS Registrar Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei acknowledged the funding delays and assured the public that steps were being taken to resolve the matter.
“We are now processing a $1 million payment,” he said, explaining that the delay was due to an ongoing audit. He added that the funds were being channeled through the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and the Bank of Ghana.
University of Memphis President Dr. Bill Hardgrave attributed the delayed payments to Ghana’s recent political transition following the December 2024 elections.
“I think there was a regime change in Ghana, and that affected the budget. But we’re hopeful that gets corrected because we’d love to keep those students on campus,” he stated.
In response to the situation, the university has encouraged donations to its Gary Shorb International Student Support Fund to help affected students with emergency financial needs.
This is not an isolated case. Ghanaian students studying in the UK, Russia, China, and parts of Eastern Europe have reported similar issues, often linked to delays in scholarship disbursements and foreign exchange constraints.
The recurring nature of these challenges highlights the urgent need for more transparent, reliable, and efficient processes in managing Ghana’s international scholarship programmes, to prevent further disruptions to students’ academic progress.
