Ghanaian students pursuing doctoral degrees in the United Kingdom are set to organize a significant protest in London, citing extensive delays in the disbursement of tuition fees and living stipends by the Ghana Scholarship Authority (GSA).
In a statement released yesterday, the executive committee representing the UK PhD community announced that the demonstration will take place on April 17 outside the Ghana High Commission in London.
The protest has become imperative after numerous unsuccessful attempts to communicate with authorities regarding escalating financial difficulties.
The students report that many recipients of the government scholarship program have gone without their stipends for periods ranging from 15 to 40 months. Additionally, tuition fees have reportedly remained unsettled, resulting in dire consequences such as withdrawal from academic programs and potential deportation threats from universities.
The group has accused the Scholarship Authority of neglecting students in the UK while simultaneously granting new scholarships to other nations, including Canada, the United States, Germany, and China.
Concerns have also been raised regarding delays in issuing renewal letters, which are critical for continuing students to register for upcoming academic terms. These letters have reportedly not been provided for over 15 months.
“To exacerbate the situation, the management of the Scholarship Authority continues to award non-bilateral scholarships to new students heading to Canada, the USA, Germany, and China, while those already engaged in their studies in the UK are overlooked,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that all continuing students requiring renewal letters to re-enroll and proceed with their studies have been left stranded, as these letters have not been issued for more than 15 months. The renewal letters are essential for successful registration at the beginning of a new academic year.
As the 2025/2026 academic year progresses into its eighth month, no renewal letters have been distributed, rendering it impossible for continuing students to register and resume their studies.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong