Gov’t pays $1 million to keep students at University of Memphis

The University of Memphis has confirmed receiving a $1 million payment from the Government of Ghana. A move that will allow nearly 200 Ghanaian students to remain on campus and avert the immediate threat of eviction and possible deportation.

The payment, however, only partially settles the $3.6 million owed under the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS) programme, leaving an outstanding balance of $2.2 million.

At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Registrar of the GSS, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, sought to allay fears among affected students, assuring that they “will not be deported.” He explained that $400,000 had already been cleared earlier, with the additional $1 million currently being processed.

“We are now processing a $1 million payment,” Asafo-Agyei said, attributing the delays to an ongoing audit. According to him, the funds are being routed through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and the Bank of Ghana for final transfer to Washington.

The University of Memphis had earlier issued a stern warning that Ghanaian students risked losing their scholarships, campus housing, and even legal residency if fees were not paid by August 9, 2025. The uncertainty generated widespread anxiety among students and their families, many of whom feared they would be forced to abandon their studies midway.

University President, Dr. Bill Hardgrave, suggested that the delays were partly linked to Ghana’s political transition after the December 2024 elections. “I think there was a regime change in Ghana, and that affected the budget, but we’re hopeful that gets corrected because we’d love to keep those students on campus,” he remarked.

Most of the affected students are pursuing degrees in science, engineering, and business fields regarded as critical to Ghana’s development agenda. While awaiting full settlement of the arrears, the University of Memphis has appealed for donations through its Gary Shorb International Student Support Fund, which provides emergency assistance to international students in need.

For now, the $1 million transfer has secured temporary relief, but both the university and the students remain under pressure until the remaining $2.2 million is cleared.