The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat has announced that the government has released $1 million to help settle part of the outstanding arrears owed to the University of Memphis in the United States.
This move follows growing concerns over the possible revocation of scholarships, evictions, and deportations affecting Ghanaian students studying at the institution.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, assured students of Memphis University and their families that proactive measures are being taken to prevent any adverse outcomes.
“We are on course with the issues regarding the Ghanaian students at the University of Memphis. Ghanaian students will not be deported; I give you that assurance,” Asafo-Agyei said.
He disclosed that $400,000 had already been paid to the university and that an additional $1 million is currently being processed to further reduce the outstanding balance, which now stands at approximately $2.2 million.
“Because the audit is ongoing, we are not paying all. We owe them $3.6 million in total, and we have paid $400,000 so far. We are now processing a $1 million payment,” he explained.
Asafo-Agyei added that the funds are presently with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and will soon be transferred to the Bank of Ghana, after which they will be sent to Washington for payment to the university.
The Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the academic and housing stability of Ghanaian students abroad and emphasised ongoing efforts to resolve the arrears fully.
However, the university has set a deadline of August 9, 2025, for the students to secure alternative funding or vacate their accommodations.
President of the University of Memphis, Dr Bill Hardgrave, confirmed the scale of the crisis in an interview with local media.
“The students are sponsored by the government of Ghana, which has not paid the students’ tuition for some time,” he told Action News 5’s Better Memphis programme.
Dr Hardgrave linked the payment delays to political changes in Ghana following the December 2024 general election.
“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 said.
The 185 students, most of whom are pursuing science, engineering, and business-related courses, have appealed for urgent support to avoid being forced to abandon their studies and return home.
In the interim, the University of Memphis has encouraged philanthropic contributions through the Gary Shorb International Student Support Fund to help sustain the students.
As the August deadline looms, the fate of these young Ghanaian scholars rests on the speed and completeness of government intervention to honour the remaining $2.2 million in tuition arrears.
