President of the Ghana PhD Cohort, Prince Bansah, has raised alarm over the worsening plight of Ghanaian government-sponsored students in the United Kingdom, describing the situation as deeply distressing and a threat to Ghana’s diplomatic image.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Bansah said, “The reality on the ground is far more egregious than those snippets suggest — our colleagues have suffered beyond what words can capture.”

He revealed that stipends owed to students range from 8 to 36 months. “Some have not received a single payment in three years,” he stressed, noting that universities have also not been reimbursed for tuition.

Mr Bansah disclosed that in April, the new registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat visited the UK in response to mounting student pressure. During engagements, particularly at the University of Birmingham, the registrar assured students that 10% of outstanding tuition would be paid and stipends would resume by the end of May.

However, Mr Bansah expressed disappointment that upon returning to Ghana, the registrar made what he described as a “very scathing media engagement” that failed to properly communicate the purpose and outcomes of the UK visit.

He added, “That is the current standstill. We have tried repeatedly to contact officials here, but many students say their emails go unanswered.”

He painted a grim picture of students’ living conditions, with many facing eviction and relying on food banks.

“Anyone who has studied abroad understands that in the UK, hunger is a solitary battle — you can’t simply knock on a neighbour’s door like you might in Ghana. When you’re sick here, it’s only you and your God.”

Mr Bansah also spoke candidly about the toll on mental health. He shared his own experience of falling ill while completing his thesis due to going nearly 20 months without stipends. A well-being officer, he said, linked his condition to financial distress and planned to escalate the issue to the British Parliament.

“This is now a diplomatic issue and a human rights concern,” he stressed, confirming that his local MP had contacted him to raise the matter in the British Parliament.

He also revealed that some students were withdrawn from their programmes last year due to non-payment, and he personally had to shelter some of them. “But we cannot sustain support for most colleagues. The crisis is dire.”

He described how male students have turned to casual labour, locally referred to as “making spends,” while raising concern about the unknown struggles female students may be facing.

“At first, I thought the issue might be exaggerated, but flyers advertising such work circulated among Master’s and Undergraduate students confirm it. If male students are pushed to this, imagine what female students, especially PhDs, endure.”

He explained the unique challenge for PhD candidates: “Unlike undergraduates who have summer breaks, PhD students work year-round. Employers don’t want part-time workers limited to 20 hours a week. That’s our reality.”

Mr Bansah appealed for immediate action: “This is not a political issue. Our PhD cohort of just over 80 students includes the brightest minds, across all political backgrounds. We’re simply asking for the support we were promised.”

He acknowledged that the issue predates the current government but urged swift intervention to restore dignity to affected students and safeguard Ghana’s diplomatic reputation.