Ghanaian PhD students in the UK plan to protest over delayed stipends

Ghanaian students pursuing doctoral studies in the United Kingdom have announced plans to stage a major protest in London over what they describe as prolonged delays in the payment of tuition fees and living stipends by the Ghana Scholarship Authority.

In a statement issued on April 6, 2026, the executive body representing the UK PhD cohort disclosed that the demonstration is scheduled for April 17 at the Ghana High Commission in London.

The protest has become necessary after months of failed attempts to engage authorities over worsening financial hardships.

According to the students, many beneficiaries of the government scholarship scheme have gone without receiving their stipends for between 15 and 40 months.

Tuition fees have also reportedly remained unpaid, leading to severe consequences, including withdrawal from academic programmes and threats of deportation by universities.

The group accused the Scholarship Authority of neglecting students in the UK while continuing to award new scholarships to other countries, including Canada, the United States, Germany, and China.

They also raised concerns about delays in issuing renewal letters, which are essential for continuing students to register for new academic terms, and which have reportedly not been provided for over 15 months.

“To make matters worse, the management of the Scholarship Authority continues to issue non-bilateral scholarships to new students to study in Canada, USA, Germany and China, while those already at various stages of their studies in the UK are neglected.

“At present, all continuing students who require renewal letters to re-enrol and continue their studies have been left to their own fate, as the letters have remained unissued for more than 15 months. The renewal letters are a prerequisite for the successful registration of students to begin a new academic year.

“However, 8 months into the 2025/2026 academic year, no renewal letters have been issued, thereby making it impossible for continuing students to register and engage in their studies.”