The University of Memphis has issued a stern warning to Ghanaian scholarship students after the Ghanaian Government fell significantly behind on fee payments. Under the Ghana Government Scholarship Scheme, 185 Ghanaian students in the US have received full sponsorship. 

However, the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat is reportedly in arrears to the tune of US $3.6 million, having paid just $400,000 to date

Officials at the University are reportedly exerting pressure on the studentship scheme, cautioning that outstanding fees could result in the withdrawal of students’ enrolment ahead of the Fall 2025 semester. 

Should the outstanding balance remain unsettled, these students may face not only suspension from academic programmes but also the revocation of their student visas, with the attendant risk of deportation.

The plight of the affected students has sparked alarm and dismay. One of them lamented that these Ghanaian students were selected and sponsored by the Government, yet now find themselves “left alone to fight for our future”. 

Despite sending multiple appeals—through the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, the Education and Foreign Affairs ministries, the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and even the President’s Office—no resolution or payment commitment has emerged.

The students have called for urgent intervention by President John Dramani Mahama, urging the Government to settle the unpaid fees promptly. 

They have also appealed to Parliament to investigate and ensure oversight of all Ghanaian scholarship recipients abroad. 

The situation not only jeopardises their academic and career prospects but also poses a reputational risk to Ghana’s global standing and its commitment to nurturing its youth through foreign scholarships