Ghanaian students studying abroad, particularly in the USA, Canada, Barbados, Grenada, and the Dominican Republic, are grappling with financial difficulties due to delayed government stipends. In a letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo on September 9, the students highlighted the hardships they face after going without stipends for 18 months, with some not receiving financial support for over two years.
The situation has forced many students into dire circumstances, including eviction from hostels and visa cancellations. Some students have been expelled from their institutions due to unpaid tuition fees. Female students report being coerced into unwanted relationships to survive, while male students resort to selling sperm to make ends meet.
While the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat released $50 million on September 3 to address outstanding payments, the students argue that this amount is insufficient to cover the needs of all scholarship recipients. They are calling on the government to release additional funds to prevent further hardship and ensure they can complete their studies without fear of expulsion or deportation.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO.
09/09/2024 Your excellency,
APPEAL FOR URGENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We are writing to inform you of the severe financial difficulties we are currently facing due to the non-payment of stipends and tuition fees. This situation has caused tremendous hardship among us. Despite the promises made in our award letters, stipends have not been paid for 18 months, and some students have not received any stipends for over two years. This lack of payment has left many of us vulnerable, with both male and female students becoming victims of unexpected situations.
Some students have received withdrawal letters from their institutions, while others have had their visa status canceled. The majority of us have been evicted from our hostels and apartments. These factors, among others, have compelled us to engage in dubious acts to earn financial support for survival. Female students are often forced into unwanted intimate relationships, and male students resort to seeking financial support from older women or selling sperm to make ends meet. Currently, those of us who have not been withdrawn from our institutions are not permitted to enter lecture rooms due to unpaid tuition fees.
While the government recently released $50 million to address these issues, we wish to call on the President to recognize that this amount is insufficient to cater to all students in the UK, USA, Barbados, Grenada, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. This will leave the challenges unresolved and may force many students to drop out of their programs and risk deportation.
We also urge the Office of the President and the Scholarship Secretariat to ensure the equal distribution of stipends among students. Finally, Your Excellency, we appeal to you to release additional funds to cover the outstanding payments for tuition and stipends, ensuring that all students can complete their various programs without fear of expulsion or deportation.
Sincerely.
Signed
GHANAIAN STUDENTS IN USA, CANADA, BARBADOS, GRENADA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.