The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat says the government has made $1 million available to address mounting debts owed to the University of Memphis in the U.S., amid growing fears that Ghanaian students there could face eviction, scholarship cancellation, or even deportation.
Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, confirmed the intervention and sought to calm public concern at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
“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,” he said.
The government says it has so far paid $400,000 to the university and is preparing to transfer an additional $1 million. The funds, according to Asafo-Agyei, are currently with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and will be routed through the Bank of Ghana to Washington for final settlement.
“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 said.
The unpaid arrears, which total approximately $3.6 million, have reportedly placed students at risk of losing their accommodation and academic standing. Once the additional $1 million is transferred, the remaining balance will stand at roughly $2.2 million.
The Registrar noted that the payment plan is structured to allow for auditing and verification before the full amount is released.
