The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has issued a pressing call to the government, urging swift action to address the grievances of Ghanaian students currently studying abroad on government scholarships.

The urgency of this call stems from a recent protest staged by scholarship recipients in Morocco, who have been grappling with a prolonged delay in the disbursement of their stipends, spanning 10 months.

During the protest, the students voiced their frustrations, citing the adverse effects of the stipend delay, which has exacerbated their existing financial challenges.

Among the hardships mentioned were the inability to afford basic necessities such as food and sanitary products.

NUGS President, Kyeremeh Oppong Daniel, conveyed the union’s unwavering commitment to advocating for the welfare of Ghanaian students studying abroad. 

Speaking at a news conference held on Wednesday, May 29, he emphasised the severity of the situation faced not only by students in Morocco but also by those in other countries such as the UK, India, and those reliant on the Students Loan Trust Fund.

Oppong Daniel underscored the importance of prompt action by the government to resolve these pressing issues, as the well-being and academic progress of Ghanaian students abroad are at stake. 

According to him, the union remains dedicated to pursuing this matter until a satisfactory resolution is achieved.

“We are very perturbed by the current happenings but we are pretty much sure this listening government is going to take a quick step toward solving this particular challenge. Our students are suffering in Morocco, our students are suffering in the UK, our students are suffering in India, and most of the students on the Students Loan Trust Fund are also suffering."

"We need funds to facilitate education. Free senior high school is churning out a lot of numbers who are in our tertiary institutions.”

Mr. Kyeremeh underscored the necessity of sufficient funding to bolster education, especially considering the rising enrollment of students in tertiary institutions following the implementation of the free senior high school policy.

NUGS called upon relevant authorities to swiftly intervene to alleviate the challenges faced by affected students and forestall any exacerbation of their hardships.

“The only way to keep them going, for them to also get knowledge to develop our country is to get them proper funding to keep them going.

“The Students Loan Trust Fund is one key area that should be looked at. We are calling on the government and all agencies to come and rescue students in the country," he added.