Six Ghanaian government-sponsored master’s students at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom have accused officials at the Ghana High Commission in London of verbally abusing and physically assaulting one of their colleagues during a protest over unpaid scholarship funds.
The students staged a peaceful demonstration outside the High Commission on Monday after more than a year and a half without receiving tuition payments or living stipends promised by the Government of Ghana.
The students say they are owed a combined £238,852 in tuition fees and stipend arrears, leaving them unable to graduate despite completing their academic programmes.
Speaking to Citi News, Convener of the group, Noah Krah, claimed that one student was assaulted, unlawfully detained, and had personal data deleted from her mobile phone by the High Commissioner, Sabah Zita Benson, and one Bridget Bonney, identified as her assistant, after attempting to record alleged verbal abuse by the High Commissioner.
“In four hours, not a single official of the Ghana High Commission came outside to speak with us. There was no acknowledgement, no engagement, and no response of any kind through any formal channel.
“Two of my colleagues insisted on going inside the Ghana High Commission. They followed all the protocols there, and they were led to the waiting room. The next minute, Her Excellency Sabah Zita Benson and one Bridget Bonney at the Ghana High Commission came down from their office.
“They started verbal abuse on my colleagues, saying “kwasiafo) and using words like useless people, and Brigitte Bonny even said we don’t deserve taxpayers’ money,” he narrated.
Noah Krah highlighted that the group has received no response after filing a formal complaint to the Head of Education and Recruitment at the Ghana High Commission.
“I sent an update of the protest and the resulting incident of assault to the Head of Education and Recruitment at the Ghana High Commission. As of now, I’m speaking with you. They have not reverted,” he said.
He called for an investigation into the alleged incident, the immediate payment of the outstanding funds, and a formal apology, threatening that the victim would press charges.
“My colleague, Abena Fosuah, decided to pull out her phone to record the incident. So Bridget Bonney and other members, whose identities we have yet to establish, possibly forced Abena Fosuah to take her phone and delete all her recordings, including interviews she took for her academic work, he added.
Hospital authorities have confirmed that the victim suffered from soft tissue injury, which could take up to two weeks to heal.
He said the victim has been given some prescriptions and also been advised to report the matter to the Police, Citizen Advice and the Ombudsman.
He added that an X-Ray of her injuries was also captured during the formal examination, adding that they booked mental health support because she is traumatised.
