Ghana pays $3.5m to University of Memphis over scholarship debt

The Ghana Scholarships Secretariat has recently settled a significant portion of the US$4 million in outstanding tuition fees owed by the University of Memphis to Ghanaian scholarship students. This payment, totaling US$3.5 million, was confirmed in an email to affected students on Tuesday, September 8. The news comes after the university had suspended its scholarship partnership with Ghana due to the unpaid fees, which had raised concerns about the enrollment and academic status of nearly 100 Ghanaian students as the fall semester approached.

The University of Memphis had initially reported the debt at US$3.6 million in July 2025. However, Ghana made two separate payments of US$1 million each in August, but the outstanding balance declined only marginally. The latest payment is anticipated to significantly alleviate the arrears and provide some reassurance to students concerned about their continued enrollment and academic progress.

While this payment is a positive step, questions regarding the long-term status of the scholarship arrangement between Ghana and the University of Memphis remain unanswered. The students involved are expected to receive further updates on the status of their scholarships and the continued operation of the program.