Ghanaian medical graduates who completed their studies in Cuba are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in securing their return to Ghana after weeks of uncertainty over their departure.

The graduates say the repeated postponement of their return is creating financial difficulties and disrupting plans to begin the process of joining Ghana’s health system.

President of the recently graduated Ghanaian doctors in Cuba, Raphael Oteng Boakye, said the group completed their studies on July 22 but remains in Cuba nearly two months later.

He said the graduates were originally scheduled to return on August 28, but several subsequent dates have also been postponed.

The proposed departure dates included September 3 or 4, September 7, September 9 and September 15 or 17.

Speaking on Citi News Digest on Saturday, September 19, Mr Oteng Boakye called on President Mahama to intervene to ensure the graduates are brought home.

“Our immediate demand is that the President steps in and commands or demands that we be brought home as soon as possible because we know it’s possible,” he said.

According to him, the graduates have still not received a definite timeline for their return.

As of yet, we are yet to hear anything fruitful about a definite timeline for when we’ll be leaving this country for our motherland,” he said.

Mr Oteng Boakye said the delay could also affect the graduates’ plans to begin the process required to practise medicine in Ghana.

He explained that after returning home, the graduates are expected to undertake a six-month clinical attachment before taking the medical licensing examination.

He said the prolonged stay in Cuba has also brought additional challenges, including difficulties accessing healthcare after some of their health insurance coverage expired.

Their student identification cards also expired on August 31, while some graduates have reported challenges with electricity and water at their residences.

The graduates have held discussions with officials of the Ghana Scholarship Authority and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Cuba in an effort to resolve the situation.

However, Mr Oteng Boakye said the engagements have yet to produce a confirmed date for their departure.

We are always being told stories time and time again. So right now we don’t even know what to believe again,” he said.The group is therefore asking the government to facilitate their immediate return, settle outstanding stipends and allowances, and assist them with the cost of their first attempt at the medical licensing examination.

Mr Oteng Boakye said the continued uncertainty was affecting the graduates emotionally and financially.

“We are going through a lot of psychological stress, and we would really appreciate it if we are taken out of this country as soon as possible,” he said.