The editor-in-chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has made a disturbing revelation about the plight of Ghanaian students in Russia, who have not received their stipends for seven months.
The veteran journalist highlighted the students’ predicament in a post on X, expressing concern over their well-being amidst the harsh Russian winter.
“The plight of Ghanaian students in Russia must be extremely disturbing,” Mr. Pratt wrote.
He questioned how the students were managing to feed themselves and cope with the severe winter conditions without their stipends.
“How are they feeding themselves and coping with the severe winter in Russia?” Mr. Pratt asked.
Mr. Pratt emphasized that the authorities in Ghana have a responsibility to take immediate action to address the students’ problems.
“The authorities in Ghana have a responsibility to do something and real fast to solve the problems of these students,” he stressed.
His X post comes after some Ghanaian students abroad under the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (GSS) scheme formally petitioned President Mahama to urgently address financial challenges that are threatening their academic pursuits and well-being.
The petition indicates several pressing concerns, including unpaid stipends, accommodation difficulties, and the cancellation of bilateral agreements between the GSS and universities.
The students emphasise that these issues have resulted in immense stress, financial hardship, and even potential dropout risks.
According to the petitioners, many students have not received their stipends for several months, making it difficult to afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, and rent. Some have reportedly been threatened with eviction due to unpaid accommodation fees.
Furthermore, the students claim that delays in tuition payments have led to the cancellation of agreements between the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and several universities.
