Ghana Government Releases $1 Million to Address University of Memphis Scholarship Crisis
The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS) has announced the release of $1 million to address a $3.6 million debt owed to the University of Memphis, where 185 Ghanaian students face potential academic dismissal, visa complications, and eviction due to unpaid tuition and housing fees.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on July 30, 2025, GSS Registrar Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei assured the public that measures are in place to prevent deportations or scholarship revocations, stating, “Ghanaian students will not be deported, I give you that assurance.”
Asafo-Agyei disclosed that the government previously paid $400,000, with the additional $1 million currently being processed through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to the Bank of Ghana for transfer to Washington, D.C.
The outstanding balance of approximately $2.2 million remains under review due to an ongoing audit. “We owe them $3.6 million in total, and we have paid $400,000 so far. We are now processing a $1 million payment,” he explained.
The crisis, first reported by GhanaWeb and MyJoyOnline on July 5, 2025, stems from a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the GSS and the University of Memphis, brokered by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to fund Ghanaian students, primarily in STEM fields.
The university, which hosts students with an average GPA of 3.75, warned on July 7 that unpaid fees could lead to enrollment cancellations by August 9, 2025, risking students’ F-1 visa status. Affected students, like biomedical engineering junior Manuel Asiamah, expressed distress, with appeals to President John Dramani Mahama and Parliament yielding no resolution until now.
The Minority in Parliament has called for an investigation into GSS fund management, citing similar issues in the UK, while X posts from @JoyPrimeTV and @Graphicgh reflect public frustration over Ghana’s tarnished reputation.
The University of Memphis remains committed to supporting the students, exploring grant and loan options, though these are unfeasible for most. The GSS’s payment progress offers hope, but the remaining debt and ongoing audit underscore the need for urgent fiscal transparency to secure the students’ academic futures.
