The University of Memphis has received partial funds from the government of Ghana to address outstanding scholarship obligations for Ghanaian students, ending weeks of uncertainty over tuition payments, housing and visa statuses.
The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS) announced that the government made available $1 million to help settle arrears owed to the university, following concerns that unpaid balances could have led to scholarship revocations, evictions and even deportations of Ghanaian students.
The issue stems from a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Memphis and the Republic of Ghana through the GSS program. The agreement was intended to cover tuition and fees for Ghanaian students studying abroad, with 185 students currently enrolled in the program.
Earlier this summer, the situation reached a critical point. Any student with an unpaid balance had until July 11 to pay. Those who did not meet the deadline saw their fall courses dropped, holds placed on their registration accounts and risked losing housing and other campus support. University officials warned that students were facing academic dismissal and visa complications due to no fault of their own.
At a news conference in Accra, Ghana, July 30, GSS Registrar Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei reassured the university and students that the government was taking steps to prevent negative consequences for students. “We are on course with the issues regarding the Ghanaian students at the University of Memphis. Ghanaian students will not be deported, I give you that assurance,” he said.
According to Asafo-Agyei, the government had already made a partial payment of $400,000 to the university and is processing an additional $1 million. The remaining debt, totaling approximately $2.2 million, will be addressed after an ongoing audit.
“The money is currently with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, and it will move from there to the Bank of Ghana, then to Washington for the final transfer,” he explained.
University officials confirmed that receiving the funds provides relief to students who had faced uncertainty and potential disruptions to their studies. While a portion of the debt remains, the transfer marks a significant step toward ensuring Ghanaian students can continue their education at U of M without interruption.
