A scholarship partnership between Ghana and the University of Memphis has ended, leaving nearly 100 students in limbo.
The students, who were attending U of M on the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat program, are unable to enroll in classes as the country owes the university nearly $4 million, according to Ghana Web, a news outlet in Ghana.
"The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat has failed to meet its financial obligations to the University," a U of M spokesperson said in a Sept. 1 statement. "As a result, through no fault of their own, these students have unexpectedly become responsible for ensuring they do not face academic dismissal, visa complications, and loss of housing and support. We have communicated options to the impacted students to complete
their degree at the University of Memphis."
In July 2025, 185 Ghanian students were at risk of losing their scholarships because the country did not meet its financial obligations. In August 2025, the Republic of Ghana paid some of its debt to the university, around $1 million, to allow students to remain on campus.
Shelby County Commission split on school takeover lawsuit
A discussion of Shelby County's lawsuit against the state takeover of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system was at the forefront of last week's Shelby County Commission meeting.
The Aug. 24 meeting saw disagreements over the commission's involvement and funding of the ongoing lawsuit. The board approved a resolution requiring approval of future county funds going toward the legal battle in a split vote, but not before several members of the public weighed in.
Unveyunce Fitch, founder of Teach and Serve 901, said the county should spend taxpayer dollars on the schools, not the lawsuit.
"We have real momentum in Memphis right now, but our children are being held back by a system that refuses to give them every single tool available to succeed," Fitch said to the Commission. "Stop playing politics with our children's futures."
Liz Marable, president of the United Education Association, a local teachers union, said the lawsuit advocates for local control.
"We should continue the lawsuit because this is about more than who sits on the school board. This is about whether the people of Shelby County have the right to have a voice in how our public schools are governed," she said.
The future of the lawsuit will be up to the new Shelby County Commissioners, who took office Aug. 31.
Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at jack.armstrong@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @jca2902.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Students in limbo after University of Memphis, Ghana end partnership
