The dreams of 185 Ghanaian students studying at the University of Memphis are now on the line. The reason? The government of Ghana has fallen behind on paying their scholarship bills.
These students were sent to the U.S. under a scholarship program managed by Ghana’s Scholarships Secretariat. The plan was simple: the government would cover tuition, housing, and other living expenses. But the money hasn’t come.
Out of the $3.6 million Ghana owes the university, only $400,000 has been paid so far, according to a report from GhanaWeb. That leaves a huge $3.2 million gap.
Now the University says the students could be dismissed from their academic programs. And it’s not just their education at risk, if they’re kicked out, they could lose their visas too.
“The funding hasn’t come through as promised,” a university official said. “It puts the students in a tough spot, and frankly, it’s unsustainable.”
Some of the students say they are scared and unsure of what comes next. Parents back home are also worried. Calls are growing for the Ghanaian government to step up and clear the debt before it’s too late.
What happens in the next few weeks will decide whether these students can continue their education or face the prospect of leaving with their goals unmet.
