More than 100 Ghanaian doctoral students at UK universities say they face deportation after their government failed to pay promised scholarships and tuition fees, leaving many without living allowances.
A student group led by Prince Komla Bansah has petitioned Downing Street and Labour leader Keir Starmer, asking for help to press Ghana’s government to clear a backlog of fees and stipends running into millions of pounds. The group says some students have already been deregistered and deported after universities withdrew their registrations for non-payment. Others report evictions, mounting debt, reliance on part-time work, loans from family, or use of food banks. Some face court cases over unpaid rent.
Affected students are studying at institutions across Britain, including University College London, Robert Gordon University, and the universities of Nottingham, Bradford, Warwick, Lincoln and Liverpool. Around 30 Ghanaian PhD candidates say tuition fees have been unpaid since 2024, which has prevented them from graduating, submitting work, or accessing university facilities. Many more report support payments missing for more than three years and say letters of sponsorship or support have not been renewed.
Ghanaian officials say the administration of President John Mahama, sworn in January, inherited debts to about 110 UK institutions estimated at £32 million. Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat in Accra, says an audit of scholarships awarded by the previous government is under way and that new scholarships to the UK have been paused. He said fact-finding visits led to instalment plans with some universities, though some institutions later withdrew those agreements. He added that Ghana has made “significant payments” to some partner institutions but declined to say how much of the overall debt has been settled.
Student organisers and campaigners say the continued awarding of overseas scholarships while payments remain unresolved has worsened the problem. Earlier this year, more than 180 Ghanaian students at the University of Memphis in the US also complained about missing scholarship payments. Similar payment crises have affected students from other countries in recent years, including Nigerian students in the UK in 2020 and South African students studying in Russia.
The petition to UK political leaders asks for diplomatic support to ensure Ghana clears arrears and secures students’ registrations and residency. Students and advocates say swift action is needed to prevent further deportations, graduations being delayed indefinitely, and further financial and personal hardship for those already stranded abroad.