The National Union of Ghana Students – United Kingdom (NUGS UK) has called on the Ghanaian government to address two critical issues affecting Ghanaian students in the United Kingdom: the mandatory IELTS examination requirement and persistent delays in the payment of government scholarship funds.
In a press release dated February 25, 2026, the Union renewed its push for diplomatic negotiations aimed at securing exemptions or recognised alternatives to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for Ghanaian students who have received their entire education in English.
NUGS UK argued that since English is Ghana’s official language and the medium of instruction from basic through to tertiary education, subjecting Ghanaian students and professionals to additional English proficiency testing places unnecessary financial and administrative strain on them.
The Union called for sustained bilateral dialogue involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Education, the Ghana High Commission in the UK, and relevant UK education and immigration authorities to reach what it described as a fair and practical resolution.
Scholarship Delays Causing Distress
NUGS UK also raised serious concerns about the impact of delayed scholarship disbursements on Ghanaian students enrolled in UK universities, particularly beneficiaries at Loughborough University supported by the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat and GETFund.
The Union said the delays have led to unpaid tuition fee balances, restrictions on students’ academic progress, setbacks or refusals in Post-Study Work approvals, increased risks of visa expiration, and considerable emotional and psychological distress among affected students.
“It is unacceptable that Ghanaian students, officially sponsored by the Government of Ghana, are placed in precarious immigration and academic positions due to administrative delays beyond their control,” the statement said.
“These students have upheld their academic responsibilities. The same commitment must be demonstrated by the responsible institutions,” it added.
The Union urged the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, GETFund, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance to immediately clear outstanding tuition obligations, communicate clear payment timelines to universities, issue formal assurance letters where payments remain pending, and hold structured discussions with NUGS UK to prevent future occurrences.
It also called on the Ghana High Commission in the UK to step in diplomatically with affected institutions to protect the academic standing and immigration status of Ghanaian students.
Reputational Risks
NUGS UK cautioned that if Ghana fails to honour its scholarship commitments, it risks damaging the country’s international standing, eroding the trust of foreign academic institutions, creating future obstacles for Ghanaian students seeking to study abroad, and causing diplomatic embarrassment.
The Union described education as a strategic national investment and said Ghanaian scholars abroad represent the country’s future leadership and global influence.
The statement, signed by President Obiri Yeboah Samuel and General Secretary Gifty Abbam Tawiah, pledged continued advocacy until concrete resolutions are reached, urging swift and coordinated action to ensure no Ghanaian student in the UK faces academic or immigration jeopardy as a result of systemic delays.
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