A group of six Ghanaian government-sponsored Master’s students at Loughborough University have publicly accused officials at the Ghana High Commission in London of neglect, verbal abuse, and physical assault, following a peaceful protest over unpaid scholarships totaling £238,852.
The students — Noah Krah, Emmanuel Boakye, George Osei Buabeng, Abena Fosuaa Gyasi, Irene Pomaa Kumi, and Dwomoh Evelyn — say they have endured nearly two years of financial hardship despite assurances from the Government of Ghana that their tuition and living stipends would be fully covered.
According to the group, no payments have been made since their arrival in the UK in September 2024. As a result, Loughborough University has withheld their academic certificates and transcripts, preventing them from graduating despite completing all required coursework.
Peaceful Protest Met With Silence
On 16 June 2026, the students staged a four-hour peaceful demonstration outside the Ghana High Commission at Belgrave Square in London. Despite notifying authorities and receiving confirmation from police that their protest was lawful, the students claim no senior official from the Commission engaged with them during the demonstration.
Instead, the only response reportedly came via an informal WhatsApp message sent to one of the students, which they described as dismissive and unprofessional.
“We were ignored for four hours,” the group said in a joint statement. “We are not asking for favors. We are asking for what was promised to us.”
Allegations of Assault Inside Diplomatic Premises
The situation escalated when two students, George Osei Buabeng and Abena Fosuaa Gyasi, entered the Commission building to formally notify staff of the protest.
Ms. Gyasi alleges that she was subjected to verbal abuse, physical restraint, and unlawful detention by staff members, including senior officials. She claims her phone was forcibly taken, and she was pressured to reveal her passcode, after which personal and professional files were deleted without her consent.
According to her account, she sustained injuries to both arms during attempts to leave the premises and is currently seeking medical and psychological support.
The students further allege that derogatory language was used against them, including insults in Twi, and that threats were made suggesting possible removal from scholarship payment lists.
Calls for Accountability
The group has called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of the officials involved, as well as urgent payment of all outstanding tuition fees and stipends ahead of their scheduled graduation date on 7 July 2026.
They are also demanding a formal written apology to Ms. Gyasi and have indicated plans to report the incident to the Metropolitan Police while pursuing legal action under UK law.
“We will not be silent,” the statement read. “What happened inside that building should never happen to any Ghanaian citizen seeking help from their own country’s representatives.”
Government Yet to Respond
The students report that a formal complaint submitted on 17 June 2026 has not yet received any response from the relevant authorities.
As pressure mounts, the case is likely to draw wider attention from both Ghanaian and UK institutions, raising serious questions about the treatment of citizens abroad and the management of government-sponsored scholarship programs.
