Ghanaian graduate students studying in the United States have appealed for financial and institutional support to enable them to complete their education, warning that rising costs are pushing some students to the brink of dropping out.
The appeal was made when the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), USA, paid a courtesy call on Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., to discuss challenges confronting Ghanaian students pursuing graduate studies in the U.S.
Leading the delegation, GRASAG President Yao Kuwornu said a growing number of Ghanaian students are struggling with tuition, living expenses and health insurance costs, making it increasingly difficult to remain enrolled.
“Several of our members are facing serious financial challenges that threaten their academic progress,” he said, appealing to the Embassy to help explore access to government-targeted scholarships, emergency support schemes, and other funding opportunities to enable affected students to complete their programmes.
The association added that without timely intervention, some students risk abandoning years of academic investment, stressing the need for structured support systems for Ghanaian students abroad.
Responding to the concerns, Ambassador Victor Emmanuel Smith acknowledged the difficulties confronting Ghanaian graduate students and commended GRASAG for its advocacy on behalf of its members.
He encouraged stronger coordination between the Embassy and Ghanaian student associations abroad, noting that such collaboration could help identify practical support mechanisms while aligning student development with Ghana’s broader national priorities.
The Ambassador further noted that the skills and expertise being acquired by Ghanaian students abroad would be critical to Ghana’s industrial and economic transformation, particularly under the government’s 24-hour industrialisation agenda, and stressed the importance of ensuring students can complete their studies
The delegation also briefed the ambassador on GRASAG’s ongoing initiatives, including mentorship programmes, professional networking activities, and community outreach efforts aimed at supporting Ghanaian students and linking them to opportunities in both the U.S. and Ghana.
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