The Minority Caucus in Parliament has raised concerns over the plight of Ghanaian students studying at the University of Birmingham under government scholarship.
Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, disclosed that the caucus had received a petition from the affected students detailing distressing conditions resulting from the government’s failure to honour its financial commitments.
Addressing the media in Parliament on Tuesday, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Gender, Children and Social Welfare warned that delays in tuition payments could lead to deportation and long-term reputational damage for Ghana.
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According to the petition, tuition fees for the 2024/2025 academic year remain unpaid by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, leaving students unable to access essential academic documents.
“The University of Birmingham has withheld the students’ academic records, including their transcripts and certificates, pending the settlement of the outstanding fees,” the MP stated.
According to Hon. Fatahiya, the situation has escalated into an immigration crisis, as several students have reportedly had their visa applications rejected due to the unresolved financial obligations.
“In simple terms, Ghanaian students who travelled abroad under the authority of the State now face the very real prospect of being forced to leave the United Kingdom,” she emphasised.
She revealed that many of the affected students’ visas expired on January 30, 2026 and attempts to transition to post-study work visas have failed because their tuition remains unpaid.
“In the United Kingdom, universities are required to report irregular student status to the Home Office. This puts our students at risk through no fault of their own,” she explained.
“It is unacceptable that Ghanaian students sponsored by the State should be exposed to immigration risks and possible deportation,” she added.
The Ranking Member also painted a troubling picture of the students’ living conditions, with some reportedly relying on food banks and struggling to afford accommodation.
Many, she said, have exhausted their personal savings while waiting for the State to fulfil its obligations and stressed the emotional toll has been severe.
“These students left Ghana with hope and ambition. Today they face anxiety, embarrassment, and uncertainty about their future,” she said.
According to her, despite their challenges, the Ghanaian students have engaged the authorities, including the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the Ghana High Commission in the UK, and were repeatedly assured of resolution, and in a bid to help resolve the issue, the students even agreed to forfeit part of their stipends.
“That level of sacrifice and maturity should have been met with swift action from the authorities. Unfortunately, that has not been the case,” she stressed.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the Minority warned of broader implications for Ghana. It highlighted risks to the country’s human capital development, noting that disrupted studies could undermine investments in education and skills acquisition.
“A nation’s credibility is not measured by the promises it makes. It is measured by the promises it keeps,” the Savelugu MP said.
She also cautioned that failure to meet obligations could damage Ghana’s standing with international academic institutions and affect future scholarship opportunities.
She called on the government to act immediately to resolve the crisis. “We call on the Government of Ghana to, without further delay, settle the outstanding tuition fees owed to the University of Birmingham,” she urged.
She also appealed to the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs to engage the university diplomatically to secure temporary relief for affected students.