The untold and shameful story of the neglected future

It is a damning indictment of our so-called leaders that the Ghanaian government has once again failed to fulfill its most basic obligations to the young minds entrusted with this nation’s future.

The disturbing tales of Ghanaian students on government scholarships overseas being left to fend for themselves for months without receiving their rightful stipends and tuition payments is a stomach-churning testament to the utter callousness and incompetence of the duty bearers.

For far too long, successive administrations have mercilessly ignored the suffering of these students, treating them as insignificant afterthoughts rather than the invaluable assets they are. How can we possibly expect our bright academic minds to thrive and return home to contribute to Ghana’s progress when they are cruelly abandoned in distant lands, forced to choose between buying food and meeting their most basic needs? This is not merely a failure of policy, but a betrayal of the very trust placed in our government.

The latest protests by Ghanaian students in Morocco, who have been left without stipends for over ten months, are a damning indictment of the heartlessness and incompetence of those entrusted with their well-being. How can we as a society claim to value education and the development of our human capital when we so callously disregard the struggles of our own students abroad? This is not just a policy failure, but a profound moral catastrophe that lays bare the twisted priorities of our so-called leaders.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has rightfully sounded the alarm, urging the government to urgently address the plight of these students, not only in Morocco, but also in the United Kingdom, India, and those relying on the Students Loan Trust Fund. Their pleas must not be ignored, for the consequences of our inaction will reverberate through the generations to come.

The government must act swiftly and decisively to rectify this situation, not with empty promises, but with concrete, measurable initiatives that demonstrate a genuine, unwavering commitment to the well-being and success of our students abroad. Adequate and timely financing must be provided to the Scholarship Secretariat and the Students Loan Trust Fund to ensure that not a single Ghanaian student is left behind, forced to fight for survival in a distant land while their own government turns a blind eye.

By abandoning our students abroad, we are not only betraying their trust, but also fatally undermining our country’s ability to compete on the global stage. The invaluable knowledge and skills these students are acquiring should be celebrated and nurtured, not neglected and discarded.

Anything less than a swift and comprehensive solution would be a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the very foundations upon which Ghana’s progress should be built. The future of our nation depends on the success of our students, and it is high time our so-called leaders recognize this fundamental truth and act accordingly.

The male students resorting to selling their sperm and the female students engaging in unsavory relationships just to survive is a heartbreaking testament to the government’s callous disregard for their well-being. The students locked out of their academic portals, facing deportation, and being dragged to court by landlords for unpaid rent are all victims of a system that has failed them utterly.

The amount of money spent on campaigns and other useless ventures are way more than the 50 million Ghana cedis released for disbursement. That is a woefully inadequate response to a crisis of this magnitude.

The vice president’s deaf ears to the pleas of Sampson Lardi Anyenini during the “Meet the Press” encounter is a shameful display of indifference that cannot be tolerated.

The government must act now, with decisive and concrete measures, to address the plight of our students abroad. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust placed in our leaders and a betrayal of the very future of our nation.

Let’s stop the empty promises. Leaders must demonstrates a true commitment to the success and well-being of our brightest minds.