The President of the Ghanaian PhD Cohort Group in the United Kingdom, Prince Komla Bansah, has revealed that he was taken to court over unpaid rent after months of delays in the payment of stipends to Ghanaian government-sponsored doctoral students.
Describing the ordeal on Eyewitness News on Friday, June 12, Bansah said the prolonged delays had left many students struggling to meet basic living expenses, forcing some to rely on food banks, loans, and the support of friends.
According to him, the situation has become so severe that several students have faced legal action because they were unable to pay their rent.
“So now people have to rely on food banks, the benevolence of friends, and people have borrowed. I know some other people who have been taken to court as a result of the non-payment of the stipend because they can’t afford the rent, and as you already know, England is very expensive, so to pay rent and all that,” he said.
Bansah disclosed that he was among those affected by the financial difficulties.
“Even I myself, I was taken to court. I don’t have the money to pay. So I was taken to court. I can show it to you,” he said.
He explained that he was unable to attend the court proceedings because he had no defence against the claim.
“So the judge, I didn’t even turn up, so they just gave me a default judgment. What are you going to defend there? Yeah, so they gave me a default judgment,” he added.
Bansah said the delayed stipends have placed significant financial and emotional strain on many Ghanaian PhD students in the UK, some of whom have completed their studies but remain unable to settle outstanding obligations due to the non-payment of their allowances.
He called for urgent intervention to address the challenges facing affected students, warning that the situation continues to have serious consequences for their welfare and academic pursuits.
