Ghanaian students on scholarship schemes in the United Kingdom and other countries are calling on Government to release money for payment of 12 months stipend arears owed them.
According to them, the delay in payment of their stipend has made their lives unbearable.
‘’You give us scholarship to school outside, we go through a lot to fend for ourselves’’ he lamented.
Speaking with Roland Walker, host of NEWDAY on TV3, August 14, one of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity stated that their monthly stipend of £1,028 has not been forthcoming.
He added that the last payment received was in March this year. The concerned student bemoaned that despite assurances by the authorities that payment will be effected in 2 months, this has not been done.
’It is very pathetic. We are unable to concentrate on our studies, because we are in debt. If there is no money, why do you give scholarship abroad. Some of the students are sleeping in libraries and others sleep at the police stations” he stated.
He complained that the only way the liaison office in UK communicates with them is via zoom, which makes them feel neglected.
In reaction, the Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Mr. Kinsley Agyemang, who also spoke on the show, acknowledged that there are recurring instances of delay of funds. Nonetheless, he assured that the Ministry of Finance has released some funds for this purpose.
Mr. Agyemang mentioned that there was an outstanding 24 months from the previous government which had to be cleared.
‘’The Ministry of Finance is working on it. In due course funds will be allocated to them…. I am unable to give exact timelines,” he stated.