Ghana Allocates $1 Million to Protect Students at University of Memphis from Deportation
The Government of Ghana has released $1 million to help prevent the deportation of Ghanaian scholarship students studying at the University of Memphis in the United States, amid mounting concerns over unpaid tuition and immigration risks.
Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, confirmed the allocation during a press briefing on July 30, 2025, in Accra. He emphasized that no Ghanaian student is at risk of deportation, despite outstanding debts that have threatened both academic progress and legal status.
Ghana currently owes the University of Memphis a total of $3.6 million. According to Asafo-Agyei, the government had previously paid $400,000, and the newly approved $1 million is now being processed through the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department and the Bank of Ghana. This payment will lower the outstanding balance to $2.2 million, pending the completion of an ongoing audit of scholarship accounts.
“The audit necessitates a partial payment,” Asafo-Agyei said, reaffirming the government’s assurance to affected families and education stakeholders.
The Secretariat is in ongoing dialogue with University of Memphis officials to fully resolve the situation. Officials underscored the government’s commitment to protecting students under President John Mahama’s administration, especially as pressure mounts over delayed payments and financial uncertainty affecting Ghanaian students abroad.
