A group of Ghanaian PhD students studying in the United Kingdom has appealed to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to intervene in what they describe as a worsening crisis involving unpaid tuition fees and stipends owed to them by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.
In a letter dated December 3, 2025, the executives representing an estimated 110 Ghanaian PhD students outlined severe financial and academic challenges resulting from prolonged delays in payments by the Scholarship Secretariat.
They explained that although they were sponsored by the government of Ghana with promises of full tuition coverage and monthly stipends ranging between £1,023 and £1,200, many have gone months and even years without receiving these funds.
According to the student group, the situation has left several members facing hunger, homelessness, and mental distress, with some forced to withdraw from their programmes. They reported that 15 students have already been withdrawn due to unpaid fees, while 30 others have received no payment for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Some students are also unable to access their university portals, submit their theses or obtain certificates because of outstanding tuition debts.
The students stated that although £1.6 million was recently released by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to the Ghana High Commission in London, the amount was insufficient to address the backlog of fees and did not cover stipend arrears.
They noted that stipend payments are currently overdue by between 5 and 48 months, leading to evictions, court cases over rent arrears and reliance on food banks.
The group revealed that some students have been deported after universities notified the UK Home Office of their withdrawal due to unpaid fees. They added that even those who have completed their studies are unable to return home because of debts owed to friends and family in Ghana or because they cannot afford plane tickets.
The executives said they have made numerous attempts to engage Ghanaian authorities, including the Ghana High Commission, the Registrar of Scholarships, the Minister of Education and other government officials, but have received no lasting solution.
They estimate that £3.6 million is required to settle outstanding fees and stipends for the PhD cohort alone. They fear that students at the undergraduate and master’s levels, who are also sponsored under the same scheme, may be facing similar challenges.
The students appealed to Prime Minister Starmer to use his office to encourage the Ghanaian government to release funds urgently and to communicate directly with Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, to intervene.
Copies of their appeal were also sent to the Speakers of the British and Scottish Parliaments, the Mayor of London and major media outlets.
The student group expressed readiness to meet UK officials in person to provide further details on their situation.
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