Members of the Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Education Committee have issued an urgent call to the government to release outstanding scholarship funds owed to Ghanaian students studying abroad under state sponsorship.
At a press conference held at Parliament House, the Minority MPs warned that the failure to promptly disburse the needed funds could result in dire consequences, including eviction, de-registration, deportation, loss of academic years, and irreparable damage to Ghana’s international image.
According to the Committee, more than 180 Ghanaian students in Memphis and Tennessee in the United States are on the brink of being thrown out of their university accommodation due to non-payment of housing fees.
Others studying in the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe are reportedly facing extreme financial hardship, with many struggling to afford basic necessities and skipping meals.
A looming crisis for Ghana’s brightest minds
Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Offinso North and a member of the Education Committee, spoke on behalf of the Minority members, stressing that the future of Ghana’s top talents was in jeopardy.
“We urge the Government of Ghana, through the Office of the President, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and not allow bureaucratic silence to derail the future of hundreds of our nation’s brightest,” Dr. Asamoah stated.
He lamented that these students, selected through a rigorous process and assured of full government sponsorship, were now being reduced to hardship, ridicule, and uncertainty in foreign countries—situations he described as shameful and unacceptable.
Reputation at risk, trust eroded
Dr. Asamoah further warned that the government’s inaction was not only a humanitarian and academic failure but a diplomatic misstep that threatened Ghana’s global standing.
“No nation committed to development can in good conscience watch while its scholars abroad are subjected to ridicule, hardship, and potential deportation,” he declared.
“These students did not smuggle themselves into foreign countries. The government of Ghana selected them, issued formal letters of sponsorship, and assured them of the state’s support. To now renege on this promise is not just a breach of contract but also a betrayal of trust.”
He said the looming July deadlines for university housing renewals and academic registration meant the government must act swiftly to prevent irreversible academic disruptions and the loss of investment in human capital.
Call for national solidarity and accountability
The Minority MPs called on civil society, the media, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens to join in holding the government accountable and ensuring that these young scholars receive the support they were promised.
“This is not just about school fees. This is about the dignity and future of our young people, the credibility of Ghana’s institutions, and our ability to honour our international obligations,” Dr. Asamoah emphasized.
