Image Credit: University of Memphis / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Almost 200 students from Ghana are set to be dismissed from the University of Memphis (U of M) after their government has failed to meet its financial obligations to the school.
In 2023, the U of M entered into an agreement with the Republic of Ghana through their Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS) program intended to cover tuition and fees for Ghanaian students studying abroad, allowing 185 students to enroll at the university to bring, “diverse perspectives, academic excellence, and cultural richness,” to the community.
But due to the GSS’s failure to fulfill its financial commitments, the students are facing academic dismissal, visa complications, and loss of housing and support. The students were given until July 11 to pay any outstanding balances, and any who failed to rectify their accounts were to be dropped from fall courses and be placed on a registration hold.
The university was initially optimistic that the issue would be resolved, but the government of Ghana has reportedly only paid $400,000 of the $3.6 million owed.
University President Bill Hardgrave stated, “I think there was a regime change in Ghana and that affected the budget, but we’re hopeful that gets corrected because we love to keep those students on campus.”
Now, students unable to clear any outstanding financial debts, through either governmental or personal means, have been told they are required to vacate the campus by August 9th.
“The debt accrued by the Ghana Secretariat Scholarship program has not been paid to the University of Memphis. While this outcome is not what we wanted or expected when entering our agreement in 2023, we are now left with no other choice but to move forward,” the university said.
Asiamah, a biomedical engineering student who was preparing to begin his junior year but has now been dropped from classes, said of the situation, “I’m in the middle of getting an engineering degree. I’m in the middle of getting a medical degree. I am in the middle of being a very important asset to not just the community of Memphis or the state of Tennessee, but also to the U.S. and to Ghana.”
The university says they have been pursuing all avenues to help the students resolve their debts, offering grant or loan options, but those have not been feasible for the Ghanaians, many of whom have begun calling for donors to provide expenses for their college education.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
