A group of Ghanaian government-sponsored PhD students in the United Kingdom has made a direct appeal to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to intervene in a protracted funding crisis that has left them facing deportation, homelessness, and academic withdrawal.
In a petition dated 3rd December 2025, the students’ executives revealed that despite promises of full tuition and monthly stipends from the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat (GSS), payments are in arrears by up to 48 months, plunging over 100 scholars into severe distress.
“Currently, 30 PhD students have not had any of their 2024/2025 academic fees paid,” the petition stated, highlighting the immediate academic paralysis. The students estimate that an urgent injection of approximately £3.6 million (GH¢54 million) is needed to clear outstanding fees and stipends for the PhD cohort alone.
The situation has led to at least 15 students being withdrawn from their courses, with universities passing the debts to the individuals and notifying the UK Home Office—a move that has already triggered deportations. The crisis also affects undergraduates and master’s students under the same scheme.
“The situation is so severe that some colleagues are now facing court cases over unpaid rent,” the executives wrote.
“To survive, some have had to depend on food banks because they have no money to feed themselves.”
The students cited failed engagements with Ghanaian authorities, including the Ghana High Commission in London, the Scholarships Secretariat, and the Ministry of Education.
They have also held media engagements, including a report by MyJoyOnline earlier this year, but say their plight remains unresolved.
Their appeal now rests on diplomatic intervention, urging PM Starmer to leverage the UK-Ghana relationship and communicate directly with President John Dramani Mahama to expedite the release of funds.