{
  "id": 8621447,
  "title": "Stranded Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba appeal to Mahama for immediate return",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/stranded-ghanaian-medical-graduates-in-cuba-appeal-to-mahama-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T05:51:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/stranded-ghanaian-medical-graduates-in-cuba-appeal-to-mahama-for-immediate-return/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghanaian medical graduates currently residing in Cuba are urgently requesting their country's president, John Dramani Mahama, to expedite their return home. Raphael Oteng Boakye, the president of the recently graduated doctors in Cuba, stated that despite completing their studies on July 22, they have been stranded in the country for nearly two months due to multiple postponed departure dates. The graduates were initially expected to depart on August 28, but subsequent dates, including September 3, 4, 7, 9, and 15 or 17, have also been postponed. Boakye expressed disappointment regarding the lack of concrete plans for their return, stating that they have not yet received any definitive information about their departure timeline. The prolonged stay in Cuba may impede the graduates' plans to join Ghana's health system, as they are required to undertake a six-month clinical attachment before sitting for the medical licensing examination in Ghana. Oteng Boakye highlighted the financial strain faced by the graduates, noting that six months of stipends are still outstanding, and the $360 annual book allowance has not been paid for the past five years. Some graduates are also struggling to access healthcare post-expiration of their health insurance, while others have had their student identification cards expire. The graduates have reached out to the Ghana Scholarship Authority and Ghana's diplomatic mission in Cuba, but these efforts have not yielded a confirmed departure date. Oteng Boakye emphasized the psychological stress endured by the graduates due to the ongoing uncertainty and pleaded for their immediate return to Ghana, along with the settlement of outstanding stipends and allowances, and support for their first medical licensing examination attempt.",
  "summary": "Ghanaian medical graduates stranded in Cuba are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene to facilitate their immediate return home, saying repeated delays are putting their finances and plans to enter Ghana’s health system under pressure. Raphael Oteng Boakye, president of the recently graduated Ghanaian doctors in Cuba, said the group completed their studies on July 22 but remains…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba request immediate return from John Mahama.",
    "Stranded graduates face two-month delay since July 22 completion of studies.",
    "Uncertainty impacts graduates' plans for Ghana's health system and finances."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The appeal to President Mahama signals a growing crisis for Ghanaian medical graduates stranded in Cuba, whose delayed return threatens their career prospects and adds to their financial and psychological strain.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}