Ghanaian PhD Students Seek UK PM's Help Over Unpaid Scholarships

Over 100 Ghanaian doctoral students in the United Kingdom are facing deportation, eviction, and significant financial hardship due to unpaid government scholarships. The students have formally petitioned the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, requesting urgent intervention to resolve the crisis.

The petition implores the British government to engage with Ghanaian authorities to clear a substantial backlog of tuition fees and living allowances, totaling several million pounds. The students argue this intervention is critical to prevent further disruptions to their studies and lives.

According to the students, the prolonged delay in payments has led to universities withdrawing their registrations and, in some instances, the UK Home Office initiating deportation proceedings. Prince Komla Bansah, President of the students’ group, explained the dire situation. “Many of our members have been forced out of their accommodation or are sinking deeper into debt just to survive,” he said.

While some attempt part-time work, Bansah emphasized that the demanding nature of PhD research makes it an unsustainable solution for most. He added that students are increasingly reliant on financial support from their families back in Ghana.

The petition details that the crisis has escalated to the point where some students are facing legal action over unpaid rent and are forced to depend on food banks to meet basic necessities. The affected students are studying at prominent UK institutions, including University College London, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, and the universities of Nottingham, Bradford, Warwick, Lincoln and Liverpool.

Ghanaian officials attribute the problem to inherited debts. Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, stated that the current administration, after taking office in January 2025, discovered scholarship-related debts of approximately £32 million owed to around 110 UK institutions.

“We initiated an audit of scholarships awarded by the previous government and simultaneously suspended the granting of new UK scholarships,” Asafo-Agyei explained. He further noted that he had traveled to the UK to negotiate installment payment plans with the universities, but these efforts were not entirely successful as some institutions subsequently withdrew from the arrangements.

While acknowledging that Ghana has already made “significant” payments, Asafo-Agyei declined to specify the exact amount of the debt that has been settled, citing ongoing negotiations.

Students report a severe impact on their academic progress. Approximately 30 PhD candidates haven’t had their tuition fees paid since 2024, hindering their ability to graduate, submit their theses, or access vital university resources. Many have also gone over three years without receiving the necessary maintenance payments.

Compounding the issue, the government has not renewed the letters of support required for students currently holding scholarships in the UK. Bansah expressed frustration that, despite being aware of the problem’s scale, the current administration has yet to find a resolution, questioning why new scholarships are being awarded while existing obligations remain unmet.

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