We’re suffering, dying due to 10 months delay in stipend payments — Ghanaian students in Morocco

Ghanaian students studying in Morocco are facing severe hardships due to a 10-month delay in receiving their monthly stipend payments from the Ghanaian government, according to the Ghanaian Students’ Association in Morroco (GHASAM).

In a press release issued on May 14, and signed by GHASAM President, the group indicated the "havoc" now being faced by the students due to the lengthy payment delay.

"Students have been evicted from their apartments and many more threatened to be evicted since they have not been able to cater for their rent and their essential bills," said part of the statement.

It added that some students are now unable to access healthcare services.

“Just recently, some students were reportedly ill and are not able to receive healthcare due to this dire situation. One student suffering from a peptic ulcer recently went unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. However, he is not able to cater for his medications and finds a challenge with dieting,” GHASAM noted.

The delayed payments are also impacting students' academic programs and research, according to the statement.

“Final projects and/or research projects of final year students are in a stagnant state due to the lack of funds to fuel these projects," it stated.

They warned that unless the issue is addressed promptly by the Ghanaian government, students could face severe consequences like repeating academic years or even death in extreme cases.

"We are suffering, we need help. We are dying, we need help," the GHASAM president pleaded.

The students are now calling on the Government of Ghana and relevant ministries to expedite the stipend disbursements to alleviate the hardships and ensure that Ghanaian students in Morocco can continue their education without further disruptions.