Ghanaian doctoral students in the United Kingdom have suspended a planned demonstration in London scheduled for today, Friday, April 17, over delays in the payment of tuition fees and living stipends by the Ghana Scholarship Authority (GSA).
The decision follows an announcement by the GSA that it has released funds to offset part of the arrears owed to Ghanaian students studying in the UK.
The students had earlier threatened to protest, citing months of unpaid fees and stipends. They warned that the delays were putting them at risk of academic sanctions, dismissal from their institutions, and possible immigration complications.
President of the PhD Cohort in the UK, Dr Prince Komla Bansah, said while some funds have reportedly been released, it is still unclear whether the payment covers all affected Ghanaian students or only a section of beneficiaries.
“As it stands now, I’ve done some checks, and it is confirmed that some money has been released. My understanding is that it’s around 37 million Ghana cedi, which is about two million pounds,” he said.
He noted that scholarship disbursements from the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat typically cover multiple categories of beneficiaries, making it difficult to determine the exact scope of the latest payment.
“Monies released to the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat usually cater for all expenditures and all scholarships they grant to students. So as it stands now, we are not very clear whether the money that has been released is solely for the UK or for all Ghana Scholarship beneficiaries,” he stated.
Dr Bansah added that in light of the development, the planned protest has been put on hold.
“My suggestion would be that, given what has transpired, and I know we are all in good spirits to ensure that this becomes successful, my thinking is that we can stand down the demonstration for today,” he added.
