University of Memphis Threatens to Deport Ghanaian Students Over $3.6m Unpaid Fees
Memphis, USA - 7 July, 2025 - The University of Memphis has warned Ghanaian scholarship students of potential academic disruption due to significant delays in fee payments by the Ghanaian government. The university has issued a stern warning to 185 students who are part of the Ghana Government Scholarship Scheme, citing an outstanding debt of $3.6 million, with only $400,000 paid so far.
According to reports, the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat has failed to settle tuition and fees for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, as well as summer housing charges. If the outstanding balance remains unpaid, students risk suspension from academic programs, revocation of their student visas, and potential deportation.
Affected students have expressed alarm and dismay, feeling abandoned after being selected and sponsored by the government. Despite multiple appeals to the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, the Education and Foreign Affairs ministries, the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the President's Office, no resolution or payment commitment has been made.
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, citing the reputational risk to Ghana's global standing and its commitment to nurturing its youth through foreign scholarships.
Source: Lead News Online
