At least 17 Ghanaian PhD candidates studying in the United Kingdom on government scholarships have been placed on a deportation red list due to unpaid tuition fees.

JoyNews sources indicate that the affected students have been denied access to their university portals, preventing them from continuing academic activities.

“Currently, we have about 110 students, and approximately 15 to 17 are on a red list, meaning they face possible deportation because they have been withdrawn from their schools and some suspended,” said Prince Komla Bansah, President of the Association of Ghanaian PhD Students in the UK, on The Pulse on Tuesday, August 26.

One of the affected scholars has reportedly fled the UK to avoid deportation and is seeking asylum in France but is expected to return to Ghana in the coming days.

The crisis stems from the Government of Ghana’s failure to settle outstanding scholarship payments, with arrears reportedly exceeding GH¢700 million owed to institutions and countries worldwide.

Mr. Bansah described the situation as “dire,” warning that without urgent intervention, the academic futures of many students will be destroyed.

The students have appealed to the government to immediately clear the arrears to prevent deportations and save their research careers.