The University of Memphis may dismiss 185 Ghanaian students and terminate their visas after Ghana’s Scholarship Secretariat reportedly failed to pay $3.2 million in tuition under a 2023 agreement.
The debt part of a total $3.6 million obligation leaves affected students facing academic expulsion, loss of housing, and potential deportation despite maintaining enrollment.
University officials confirmed receiving only $400,000 to date, stating: “These students face severe consequences through no fault of their own.” F-1 visa regulations require continuous full-time enrollment, which dismissal would violate.
Ghana’s Scholarship Secretariat promoted the program as “fully funded” before its website became inaccessible Monday, displaying an “under maintenance” notice.
The crisis extends beyond the U.S., with reports of similar payment failures impacting Ghanaian scholars in the UK. The incident intensifies scrutiny of Ghana’s overseas education financing amid broader questions about scholarship management under President Mahama’s administration.
