Ghana Moves to Clear £32m UK University Debt to Restore Scholarships
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Aquinas Quansah, has disclosed that government is intensifying efforts to settle a £32 million debt owed to UK universities, a situation that has disrupted scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students.
Speaking to Ghanaian journalists, Mr. Quansah explained that the arrears, which date back to 2020, have created significant challenges for government-sponsored students and strained relations with academic institutions in the UK. “It’s all about money. You get your money to pay the arrears that we owe the schools from 2020 to now,” he said.
He noted that clearing the debt remains a top priority for the government and the High Commission. According to him, the scale of the financial obligation is substantial. “We’re talking about 32 million pounds. That is a lot, but we are trying to make sure we clear those debts,” he stated.
The Deputy High Commissioner revealed that the situation has had direct consequences on scholarship programmes, with no new government-sponsored students admitted into UK institutions since 2025. “Since 2025, they’ve not been able to give any scholarship into this country because no school will accept you when you owe others,” he explained.
Mr. Quansah stressed that authorities are engaging both the affected students and the universities in efforts to resolve the issue. “We are doing what we can as a commission to get money to clear those debts. We engage the schools and the students, and we believe we will find a solution very soon,” he said.
Despite ongoing efforts, he admitted that the process is complex and demanding. “It’s not an easy task. All the schools want is for them to be paid,” he added.
He expressed optimism that once the arrears are cleared, confidence will be restored and scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students in the UK will resume, ensuring that beneficiaries can continue their academic pursuits without disruption.
