Ghana Scholarships Authority Rejects Reports of Memphis Scholarship Termination
The Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) has dismissed reports that the University of Memphis has terminated its scholarship agreement with Ghana over outstanding tuition payments.
According to the Acting Executive Director of the GSA, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, the Authority has not received any formal notification from the American university indicating that the partnership has been cancelled.
He said the scholarship agreement, which was signed in April 2023, remains valid until 2028, unless either institution formally triggers the termination provision contained in the agreement.
90-Day Notice Required
Mr Asafo-Agyei explained that the agreement requires either party seeking to terminate the partnership to give the other institution 90 days’ written notice.
“As we speak, no official or unofficial notice of termination has been served on the GSA, neither have there been any discussions with the Authority that remotely suggest that the agreement has been terminated or is being terminated,” he said.
His comments come amid reports that the University of Memphis had ended the scholarship arrangement because of unpaid tuition obligations estimated at almost US$4 million.
Government Makes Fresh Payment
The GSA official also disclosed that the government continues to work towards clearing the outstanding debt owed to the University of Memphis.
He said the Ministry of Finance released US$500,000 to the university on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as part-payment of the arrears.
According to Asafo-Agyei, the payment followed advice from the GSA, while discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Finance regarding the additional budgetary resources needed to settle the remaining balance.
The Authority is also engaging the University of Memphis to develop a sustainable payment arrangement that will address the financial obligations and protect the future of the scholarship programme.
GSA Seeks Long-Term Solution
Asafo-Agyei is currently in the United States for a scheduled engagement with officials of the University of Memphis.
He said discussions during the meeting will focus on establishing a clear and practical roadmap for resolving the outstanding financial commitments.
The GSA maintains that the government remains committed to the partnership and intends to work with the university and relevant state institutions to overcome the current financial difficulties.
The clarification comes after reports raised concerns about the future of Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries at the University of Memphis following the accumulation of unpaid tuition estimated at nearly US$4 million.
For now, the GSA says the scholarship agreement remains in force and that efforts are underway to resolve the financial issues without disrupting the partnership.