Ghanaian medical graduates who have completed their studies in Cuba are appealing directly to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and facilitate their return home, following weeks of uncertainty over their departure.
The graduates say they completed their medical training on July 22, 2026, but remain in Cuba nearly two months later after several proposed travel dates were postponed.
Raphael Oteng Boakye, president of the group, said the graduates are increasingly concerned about the impact of the delay on their plans to begin the next stage of their professional careers in Ghana.
According to him, the group had initially been expected to return on August 28. However, subsequent dates in early and mid-September were also postponed without a firm replacement date being communicated.
He said the graduates now want the President to intervene to ensure that arrangements are concluded and they can return home without further delays.
The prolonged stay is also raising concerns about their medical licensing process. After returning to Ghana, the graduates are expected to undertake a six-month clinical attachment before taking the medical licensing examination.
Mr Oteng Boakye said any further delay could affect their ability to begin the attachment on time and ultimately postpone their entry into Ghana’s healthcare system.
Beyond the uncertainty surrounding their travel, the graduates say they are also dealing with financial difficulties.
They claim six months of stipends remain outstanding, although they have been informed that funding for four of those months has been made available. The students say the money has yet to reach them.
They have also raised concerns about an annual book allowance of $360, which they allege has not been paid for about five years.
The graduates say their difficulties extend to access to healthcare, with some reportedly facing challenges after their health insurance coverage expired.
Their situation has been further complicated by the expiration of their student identification cards on August 31.
Mr Oteng Boakye also cited challenges with electricity and water supply at some of their residences, adding to the pressure on graduates who say they have remained in limbo despite completing their studies.
The group has engaged officials from the Ghana Scholarship Authority and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Cuba in an effort to resolve the situation.
However, Mr Oteng Boakye said the assurances received so far have not resulted in a definite departure schedule, leaving the graduates increasingly frustrated.
The graduates are therefore calling on the government to prioritise their repatriation, settle all outstanding stipends and allowances, and provide support towards their first attempt at the medical licensing examination.
For the graduates, returning to Ghana is not only about leaving Cuba but also about beginning the professional process that will allow them to contribute to the country’s healthcare system.
They say they are under considerable psychological and financial pressure and are urging the government to act quickly to bring the matter to an end.
