Male students ‘sell sperms’ and females engage in ‘prostitution’ to make ends meet – Ghanaian Scholarship students abroad lament delayed stipends

Ghanaian students in USA, Canada, Barbados, Grenada and Dominican Republic have expressed worry over the financial difficulties they are facing due to the delay in government stipends.

In a letter issued to the President Akufo-Addo on September 9, the students brought to bare the distressing situations they have been engulfed with due to financial problems.

Despite several letters to draw government’s attention to their needs, they say stipends have not been paid for 18 months, and some students have not received any stipends for over two years.

“This lack of payment has left many of us vulnerable, with both male and female students becoming victims of unexpected situations,” the letter said.

The students noted that their difficulties have been compounded as some have been evicted from their hostels while others have had their visa status cancelled.

“Some students have received withdrawal letters from their institutions, while others have had their visa status canceled. The majority of us have been evicted from our hostels and apartments,” the letter added.

According to the letter by the students, female students have now been compelled to engage in “unwanted intimate relationships” to secure money for their needs while male students have also resorted to “selling sperm to make ends meet.”

“Female students are often forced into unwanted intimate relationships, and male students resort to seeking financial support from older women or selling sperm to make ends meet,” the students noted.

Students whose tuition fees have not been paid are not permitted to enter lecture rooms.

On September 3, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat released $50 million to cover all outstanding tuition and stipends for Ghanaian scholarship students studying abroad.

However, the students say the amount is insufficient to address their woes.

“We wish to call on the President to recognize that this amount is insufficient to cater to all students in the UK, USA, Barbados, Grenada, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. This will leave the challenges unresolved and may force many students to drop out of their programs and risk deportation,” the letter noted.

The students have called on the President and the Scholarship Secretariat to release additional funds for their tuition fees and stipends to avoid further grave consequences.

“We also urge the Office of the President and the Scholarship Secretariat to ensure the equal distribution of stipends among students. Finally, Your Excellency, we appeal to you to release additional funds to cover the outstanding payments for tuition and stipends, ensuring that all students can complete their various programs without fear of expulsion or deportation.”

Read the full letter below:

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO.

09/09/2024 Your excellency,

APPEAL FOR URGENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

We are writing to inform you of the severe financial difficulties we are currently facing due to the non-payment of stipends and tuition fees. This situation has caused tremendous hardship among us. Despite the promises made in our award letters, stipends have not been paid for 18 months, and some students have not received any stipends for over two years. This lack of payment has left many of us vulnerable, with both male and female students becoming victims of unexpected situations.

Some students have received withdrawal letters from their institutions, while others have had their visa status canceled. The majority of us have been evicted from our hostels and apartments. These factors, among others, have compelled us to engage in dubious acts to earn financial support for survival. Female students are often forced into unwanted intimate relationships, and male students resort to seeking financial support from older women or selling sperm to make ends meet. Currently, those of us who have not been withdrawn from our institutions are not permitted to enter lecture rooms due to unpaid tuition fees.

While the government recently released $50 million to address these issues, we wish to call on the President to recognize that this amount is insufficient to cater to all students in the UK, USA, Barbados, Grenada, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. This will leave the challenges unresolved and may force many students to drop out of their programs and risk deportation.

We also urge the Office of the President and the Scholarship Secretariat to ensure the equal distribution of stipends among students. Finally, Your Excellency, we appeal to you to release additional funds to cover the outstanding payments for tuition and stipends, ensuring that all students can complete their various programs without fear of expulsion or deportation.

Sincerely.

Signed

GHANAIAN STUDENTS IN USA, CANADA, BARBADOS, GRENADA AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

Source:onuaonline.com