The Minority members of the Education Committee of Parliament have revealed that the government of Ghana owes more than £17 million in unpaid tuition fees for 927 Ghanaian students on scholarship in the United Kingdom. This debt, which has accumulated over a period of 27 months, is causing severe disruptions in the students’ academic pursuits and livelihoods.
According to the Minority caucus, the government’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations has led to the cancellation of crucial Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and several UK universities. This breakdown in agreements has left many students in precarious situations, including being barred from attending classes, facing possible deportation, and enduring financial hardships.
In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Clement Apaak, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, expressed his concern over the dire situation. He called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government to address the issue immediately to prevent further embarrassment for the nation and avoid worsening the plight of the affected students.
Dr. Apaak stressed the urgency of the matter, stating, “According to the students, the government owes their fees in excess of £17 million. This has not been paid. Consequently, a number of them have been withdrawn by their schools.”
The unpaid fees have created a domino effect, with several universities withdrawing support for the students. Some students have been prevented from attending in-person classes, while others face the serious threat of deportation or even legal action. This situation, Dr. Apaak noted, is not only a financial crisis but also a matter of national concern, as the students’ education and futures are at stake.
“So this is a very dire situation, which is leading to some students engaging in very despicable and humiliating activities just to survive,” Dr. Apaak continued. “We have information to the effect that some of the male students have had to resort to selling their sperm. Some of the female students are engaged in prostitution.”
The revelation of such extreme survival tactics paints a grim picture of the lengths to which these students have been forced to go in order to continue living in the UK. For many, their dreams of earning degrees from prestigious UK institutions are now overshadowed by financial despair and the looming threat of deportation.
These scholarships, administered by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, were meant to provide opportunities for bright Ghanaian students to study abroad and return to contribute to the development of their country. However, the current situation has not only put their academic careers in jeopardy but has also brought immense personal hardship.
The crisis has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling on the government to take swift action. Educational experts, politicians, and members of civil society have voiced their concerns about the long-term implications of this issue, particularly regarding Ghana’s reputation on the international stage and the potential consequences for future scholarship programs.
The students affected by the non-payment of fees are from a range of academic disciplines and universities across the UK. Some have been forced to halt their studies altogether, while others continue to struggle in the hopes that the government will intervene and settle the debt. The uncertainty surrounding their future has left many feeling hopeless, as they face the possibility of being deported back to Ghana without completing their education.
For the families of these students, the situation is equally distressing. Many parents had high hopes for their children’s futures, believing that the scholarships would provide them with a pathway to success. Now, they watch helplessly as their children are forced to navigate an increasingly hostile environment, with no clear resolution in sight.
In response to the outcry, some members of the public have criticized the government for its handling of the situation, calling for transparency and accountability in how scholarship funds are managed. The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat have come under intense scrutiny, with many questioning why such a large debt was allowed to accumulate without any intervention.
Several advocacy groups have also called for a review of the scholarship program, urging the government to ensure that students are not left in limbo due to financial mismanagement. They have emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the scholarship scheme and ensuring that future recipients are not subjected to similar hardships.
Meanwhile, Dr. Apaak and other members of the Education Committee continue to push for a swift resolution to the crisis. They are urging the government to engage directly with the affected students and their universities in order to settle the outstanding debt and restore the MoUs with the institutions.
The government has yet to issue an official statement in response to the allegations raised by the Minority caucus, and the situation remains unresolved. However, the pressure is mounting for action to be taken as the plight of the students becomes increasingly dire.
The £17 million debt owed to UK universities is not just a financial burden; it is a reflection of the broader challenges facing Ghana’s education system and its ability to support students studying abroad. If left unaddressed, this issue could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the affected students but for the future of Ghana’s international scholarship programs.
In conclusion, the call for immediate action by the government to resolve this crisis is growing louder. With the students’ education and futures hanging in the balance, it is critical that the authorities act quickly to restore their academic standing and ensure that the promises made to these young scholars are fulfilled. As Dr. Apaak and others have pointed out, the nation’s reputation and the well-being of its students are at stake, and it is imperative that the government takes responsibility for addressing this urgent issue.
