Ghanaian students studying at the University of Memphis in the United States under government scholarships say they risk losing their student status because outstanding tuition and accommodation fees have not been settled.
The students say the university has issued notices demanding payment of the outstanding charges and warned of further action if the debts are not cleared within the stipulated period.
According to the affected beneficiaries, efforts to secure assistance from the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat have so far failed to resolve the situation.
The students say the unpaid fees have already affected their access to some university services.
They report that restrictions have been placed on their access to the institution’s online portal, making it difficult for them to use essential academic resources and services.
One of the affected students said that the deadline for resolving the matter is fast approaching, leaving beneficiaries increasingly concerned about the possible consequences.
“We have barely a week. If there is no solution to this problem, we are going to be in serious trouble. I don’t think the current administrative climate in the US will favour us in any way,” the student said.
The students fear that failure to settle the outstanding amounts could lead to more severe sanctions, including disruption of their academic programmes and possible dismissal from the university.
The scholarship beneficiaries are appealing to the government and the Scholarships Secretariat to intervene immediately and settle the outstanding fees.
They say resolving the financial obligations would allow them to maintain their student status and continue their programmes without further disruption.
The situation has also renewed concerns among the affected students about the administration of government-sponsored scholarships and the timely payment of financial obligations to institutions abroad.
For the students, an urgent resolution is needed to prevent an administrative funding issue from jeopardising their academic progress.
