President of the Ghana PhD Cohort, Prince Bansah, has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating conditions faced by government-sponsored Ghanaian students in the UK, describing the situation as not only dire but also damaging to Ghana’s international image.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Bansah said the reality is far worse than most people realise:
“The situation on the ground is far more severe than the occasional reports suggest — our colleagues are going through unimaginable hardship.”
According to him, students are owed stipends ranging from 8 to 36 months, with some not having received any payments for over three years. He added that universities have also not been reimbursed for tuition fees, placing students at risk of withdrawal.
In April, the newly appointed Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat visited the UK in response to pressure from students. During meetings, including one at the University of Birmingham, the Registrar promised to pay 10% of outstanding tuition and resume stipend payments by the end of May.
However, Mr. Bansah expressed frustration that these assurances have not materialised, and that a subsequent media engagement by the Registrar in Ghana failed to properly communicate the severity and outcome of the visit.
“Since then, we’ve been at a standstill. Many students report that their emails to officials go unanswered,” he said.
He painted a bleak picture of the current living conditions of affected students, many of whom are facing eviction and relying on food banks to survive.
“When you’re hungry in the UK, it’s a private struggle. You can’t just knock on a neighbour’s door like you might back home. And when you fall ill here, it’s just you and God.”
Mr. Bansah also highlighted the mental health toll, sharing how he personally became ill while working on his thesis after going nearly 20 months without support. A well-being officer linked his illness to financial stress and planned to raise the issue with the British Parliament.
“This has moved beyond an education crisis — it’s now a diplomatic issue and a human rights concern,” he said, adding that his local MP has reached out and intends to table the matter in Parliament.
He revealed that several students were withdrawn from their academic programmes last year due to non-payment, and he had to offer shelter to some of them. But, he admitted, such support is unsustainable.
Mr. Bansah described how male students have resorted to casual labour, known locally as “making spends,” while expressing deep concern over the unseen struggles of female students.
“Flyers advertising this kind of work have been shared among Master’s and undergraduate students. If men are being driven to this, imagine what our female colleagues—especially PhD students—may be enduring.”
He also pointed out the unique challenges faced by PhD students, who unlike undergraduates, do not have long breaks and are often ineligible for part-time jobs limited to 20 hours per week.
“Employers don’t want workers they can’t rely on year-round. That’s our reality,” he added.
Calling for urgent intervention, Mr. Bansah stressed that this is not a political issue.
“Our PhD cohort, though small—just over 80 students—represents some of Ghana’s brightest minds, from all political backgrounds. We are simply asking for the support we were promised.”
While acknowledging that the root of the crisis predates the current government, he urged authorities to take immediate action to restore dignity to affected students and protect Ghana’s diplomatic reputation.
