The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat has disbursed GHS 50 million to support Ghanaian students stranded abroad, with an additional GHS 100 million expected in the coming weeks to settle all outstanding allowances owed to students studying under the Government of Ghana scholarships.

Richard Gyamfi, Head of International Relations and Partnerships at the Scholarship Secretariat, made the announcement during a media engagement. He stated, "Due to the uproar and cries of Ghanaians, it encouraged others, and I am happy to report that the Ministry of Finance has released GHS 50 million, which has been dispatched to these students."

He further added, "As we speak, we are waiting for the GHS 100 million to hit our account, and then we will start the dispatch. But for the GHS 50 million, it has already been sent."

The announcement comes in the wake of complaints from Ghanaian students abroad due to a lack of government support. Some of these students, sent to Morocco on government scholarships, have been facing dire conditions, lacking access to basic necessities such as food and shelter.

In addition to the situation in Morocco, a group of Ghanaian students studying at the University of Birmingham, UK, are facing the risk of deportation after their student visas were revoked. The UK Visas and Immigration office cited the students’ inability to pay their tuition fees as the reason for this action. Most of these students are on the Government of Ghana Scholarship Scheme, but delays in receiving funds from the government have hindered them from meeting their financial obligations.

A letter from the UK Visa and Immigration Office addressed to the affected students, outlined their limited options: they must either leave the country voluntarily or face legal action, including possible detention and prosecution. The students are now at risk of deportation unless the issue is resolved soon.

The letter stated, “You still have permission until 09 November 2024, and the current conditions of your stay will continue to apply until then. Please ensure that you comply with these conditions. You now have until 09 November 2024 to either leave the United Kingdom (UK) or make another application to stay here. You do not have a right of appeal or administrative review against the decision to cancel your permission."

It further explained, “If you leave or are already outside the Common Travel Area (the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) before 09 November 2024, your permission will end immediately, and you will have to make a new application to re-enter the UK.”

In September 2024, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat announced plans to secure GHS 50 million to relieve the financial burden on Ghanaian students abroad. This followed numerous reports of hardships faced by these students due to unpaid stipends and tuition fees.

While acknowledging that the GHS 50 million falls short of covering all outstanding tuition fees and stipends, Richard Gyamfi assured that the Secretariat would prioritize tuition payments to prevent students from being expelled. “We are going to prioritise the tuition because we don’t want students to be kicked out of their courses,” Gyamfi affirmed.