Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sabah Zita Benson, has given assurances that the government is taking steps to address persistent delays in the payment of tuition fees and stipends owed to Ghanaian PhD students studying in the UK.

The assurance was given during a meeting with leaders of the PhD Scholars’ Cohort in the United Kingdom, following rising frustration among students over unpaid scholarship obligations.

The scholars had earlier announced plans to stage a two-day protest to draw attention to the issue, warning that the situation risked bringing reputational damage to Ghana.

The students complained of prolonged delays in the disbursement of funds, despite being beneficiaries of the Government of Ghana scholarships that cover full tuition and provide monthly stipends of between £1,023 and £1,200.

According to the cohort, some scholars have gone for months, and in certain cases years, without receiving financial support.

They further disclosed that the situation has resulted in withdrawals from academic programmes, with some students experiencing severe financial hardship, including food insecurity and housing difficulties.

Others, they noted, have been classified as inactive by their universities due to the non-payment of fees.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, January 22, 2026, High Commissioner Benson acknowledged the concerns raised and appealed for patience, explaining that the outstanding scholarship arrears represent a substantial financial burden that requires coordinated and sustainable solutions.

She stressed that efforts are underway to resolve the challenges not only for the PhD scholars in the UK but for Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries across the globe.

Following the engagement, the executives of the PhD Scholars’ Cohort agreed to suspend their planned protest, citing the need to allow space for dialogue and cooperation as government works towards addressing the issues raised.