We’ve not received stipends for six months – Ghanaian students in Hungary cry foul
Students on government scholarship in Russia have been urged to be calm by the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students in Russia after the students complained of the government’s constant delays in settling their stipends.
The students bemoaned the sorry financial situation they often find themselves in due to these delays.
They also lamented about the struggles they have to go through living in the country due to the lack of funds, but, the NUGS in Russia indicated that the sanctions put on Russia due to the current war with Ukraine have made it difficult for the government to send them their stipends immediately.
President of the National Union of Ghanaian Students in Russia, Kodwo Pobee revealed that the government has assured them that it is exploring other options to get their stipends paid.
“The stipends need to go to the UK before coming to Russia but now the sanctions have made it impossible for there to be any transaction between the Russia federation and the UK hence monies would not be able to come. Last week I had a conversation with the Embassy and they assured me that they are finding other means to try and get the monies to students,” he said.
Ghanaian students in Hungary also complained about the same issue.
They also complained that for the past four months their stipends had not been paid, making life difficult for some of them. Some of the students also revealed that they had been ejected from their rooms due to non-payment of rent.
“For the past six months; that is the last quarter of 2021, and the first quarter of 2022, stipends have not been paid to students. This situation has put students in distress. Feeding has become a problem and accommodation, especially for those living in Budapest. It has become a nightmare. This has led to the eviction of some students from their apartments. If this situation is not reversed, very soon some Ghanaians in Hungary will be homeless,” Gabriel Asante, the President of the Ghanaian Students’ Association in Hungary said at a press conference.
However, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thomas Mbomba, has given assurances that the stipends will be paid soon.
