The Ghana Scholarships Authority (GSA) has dismissed reports that the University of Memphis has terminated its scholarship agreement with Ghana over outstanding tuition debts, insisting that the partnership between the two institutions remains in force.
The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana Scholarships Authority, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, said the Authority has not received any formal notification from the United States-based university indicating that it intends to terminate the agreement.
His comments follow reports suggesting that the University of Memphis had ended its scholarship arrangement with Ghana over unpaid tuition obligations reportedly amounting to more than $4 million. According to Mr Asafo-Agyei, however, the reports do not reflect the position of the GSA, as neither an official nor an unofficial notice of termination has been communicated to the Authority.
He explained that the scholarship agreement, which was signed in April 2023, remains valid until 2028, unless either party invokes the termination clause contained in the agreement. “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.
Mr Asafo-Agyei explained that the agreement contains provisions governing how either party can bring the partnership to an end. Under the terms of the agreement, a party seeking to terminate the arrangement is required to provide the other party with at least 90 days’ prior written notice.
He therefore maintained that the absence of such a notice means the scholarship agreement continues to remain operational. The clarification is expected to provide reassurance to Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries and other stakeholders following concerns about the future of the partnership.
The University of Memphis has been one of the institutions involved in Ghana’s international scholarship arrangements, providing opportunities for Ghanaian students to pursue higher education in the United States. While denying that the agreement has been terminated, the GSA acknowledged that the government has outstanding financial obligations to the University of Memphis.
Mr Asafo-Agyei disclosed that the Ministry of Finance released $500,000 to the university on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as part-payment towards the outstanding tuition arrears. He said the payment was made following advice from the Ghana Scholarships Authority as part of efforts to address the financial obligations owed to the university.
The payment, however, represents only part of the amount reportedly outstanding, with the GSA continuing discussions with the Ministry of Finance over the remaining budgetary allocation needed to settle the debt. The Authority is also engaging the University of Memphis to develop a sustainable payment arrangement that will enable the government to meet its obligations while safeguarding the scholarship programme.
Mr Asafo-Agyei said the government remains committed to resolving the financial difficulties and ensuring that the partnership is maintained. The Acting Executive Director is currently in the United States for a scheduled engagement with officials of the University of Memphis. He said the discussions will focus on developing a clear roadmap for resolving the outstanding financial obligations and ensuring the sustainability of the scholarship agreement.
The engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to assess the financial situation, agree on a payment framework and address any concerns surrounding the implementation of the partnership. The GSA believes that a structured payment arrangement will help prevent the accumulation of further arrears and strengthen the relationship between Ghana and the university.
Mr Asafo-Agyei reiterated that government institutions are working together to address the financial challenges associated with the scholarship programme. He said the Authority remains committed to protecting the interests of Ghanaian students benefiting from the arrangement and ensuring that outstanding obligations are addressed.
The GSA’s clarification comes amid reports that the University of Memphis had terminated its scholarship agreement with Ghana because of unpaid tuition obligations reportedly exceeding $4 million. The reports generated concerns about the ability of Ghanaian scholarship beneficiaries to continue their studies under the programme and raised questions about the government’s management of its international scholarship commitments.
The GSA, however, has rejected the claim that the partnership has been terminated, stressing that the university has not activated the contractual process required to bring the agreement to an end. The Authority’s position is that the partnership remains valid until 2028, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the agreement.
The government is consequently expected to continue its engagement with both the University of Memphis and the Ministry of Finance to resolve the outstanding financial obligations. The release of the $500,000 payment is being presented as an initial step towards addressing the arrears, while further funding is expected to be secured to clear the remaining balance.
Mr Asafo-Agyei’s engagement with the university is therefore expected to be critical in determining the next steps for the scholarship programme. The GSA has assured stakeholders that it will continue working with the Ministry of Finance and the University of Memphis to find a sustainable solution to the financial challenges.
It has also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the scholarship partnership and ensuring that financial difficulties do not undermine opportunities for Ghanaian students to pursue higher education through the programme. For now, the GSA insists that there has been no termination of the agreement and that efforts are underway to resolve the outstanding debt and preserve the partnership through 2028.
By: Philbert Amiba Ayuusah