Nearly 100 Ghanaian students at the University of Memphis in the United States are facing an uncertain academic future following the termination of the university’s scholarship partnership with Ghana over outstanding tuition payments of nearly $4 million.
The affected students, beneficiaries of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat programme, have reportedly been prevented from enrolling for the new academic term unless they can secure alternative funding to clear their outstanding tuition obligations.
The development comes as the University of Memphis prepares for its fall semester, leaving the students under mounting pressure to find financial support to continue their education.
The university has confirmed that Ghana’s outstanding debt under the scholarship arrangement is approaching $4 million. The amount had stood at about $3.6 million in July 2025, after which the Ghanaian government made two $1 million payments in August. However, the outstanding balance subsequently rose again.
University of Memphis President Bill Hardgrave had previously attributed the payment challenges to Ghana’s change in government and its impact on the national budget. Despite assurances that the matter would be addressed, significant arrears remain outstanding.
The university has warned that the affected students, through no fault of their own, have unexpectedly been placed in a position where they must find ways to finance their education. It said it had communicated possible options to help the students remain on campus and complete their programmes.
The situation has raised concerns about the academic and personal welfare of the beneficiaries, many of whom are pursuing programmes in science, engineering and business. Local reports citing University of Memphis records indicate that the Ghanaian students have an average cumulative GPA of 3.75.
The scholarship partnership was established in 2023 following an initiative involving the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who advocated for educational opportunities for Ghanaian students after visiting the Memphis in May International Festival.
Under the agreement between the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat and the University of Memphis, up to 70 per cent of the scholarship slots were designated for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, while the remaining opportunities were allocated to graduate business programmes.
The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat has attributed the payment delays to an ongoing audit and administrative procedures involving state institutions responsible for processing and transferring the funds.
In July 2025, the Secretariat acknowledged that Ghana owed the university $3.6 million and said an initial payment of $400,000 had been made, with another $1 million being processed at the time.
The latest development has intensified concerns over the future of the affected students, particularly those who are close to completing their degrees.
Beyond their academic progress, the students could face immigration challenges if they are unable to maintain the full-time enrolment required under their international student status. They could also risk losing accommodation and other forms of university support.
The University of Memphis has said it is working with the affected students to explore options that could allow them to remain enrolled and complete their studies.
For the Ghanaian students caught in the dispute, however, securing alternative funding or government intervention has become an urgent priority as the new academic term approaches.
Source: citinews
