Deportation hangs over Ghanaian students in UK as scholarship support collapses

Prince Bansah, the President of the Ghana PhD Cohort, has passionately advocated on the growing emergency facing Ghanaian students in the UK describing the situation as highly disturbing and now putting at risk the Ghana’s diplomatic standing.

During FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Bansah drew to attention that  “The reality on the ground is far more egregious than those snippets suggest — our colleagues have suffered beyond what words can capture. Currently, stipends owed range from 8 to 36 months. Some students have not received a single payment in 36 months. For PhD candidates who have been here the full duration of three years, this means they have received nothing.” He also disclosed that even the universities haven’t received payment to cover tuition.

He stressed that “Let me clarify, the new registrar, in April, amid student protest threats, came to the UK in early May and engaged with investors. They reached an agreement to begin repaying debts, especially at the University of Birmingham, where they committed to paying about 10% of what they owed. The registrar also met with larger student groups and assured them that stipends would start being paid by the end of May.”

However, Mr Bansah showed frustration with the registrar’s return to Ghana, which was differentiated by a “critical media interaction” that “did not clearly describe the functions of his visit”. He added, “That’s where things stand. We have made a lot of attempts to contact officials here, but many students claim they’re being ignored via email.”

The situation is very painful because many Ghanaian students in the UK were forced out and now depend on food banks. Mr Bansah stated that “Anyone who has studied abroad understands that in the UK, hunger is a solitary battle — you can’t simply knock on a neighbour’s door like you might in Ghana. When you’re sick here, it’s only you and your God.”

Mr Bansah drew to attention that the severe emotional strain: “As I speak, some Ghanaian students in the UK are battling depression, drowning in debt, and trapped by these conditions. I can attest personally, recently, while writing my final thesis, after delivering a speech, it seemed I had ‘gone off the board.’”

He further revealed that a care and protection investigation linked his condition to almost 20 months without stipends. Mr Bandah drew to attention that “The wellbeing officer informed me this would be escalated to the British Commons. They intended to contact my local Member of Parliament.”

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