Ghanaian scholarship students in Russia have appealed to the government and relevant authorities for urgent intervention after allegedly going 14 months without receiving their monthly stipends.

The students, under the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Russia Chapter, say the prolonged delay has left many of them struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, accommodation, transportation, visa fees and medical insurance.

According to the students, the Ghanaian Embassy has acknowledged the situation and informed them that the Scholarship Secretariat has released a US$300 payment for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

However, the students say the amount is inadequate to address the financial difficulties they have faced over the past 14 months, particularly amid rising living costs in Russia.

They also cited increases in visa fees, temporary registration charges, medical insurance, transportation and other essential expenses as adding to their difficulties.

With winter approaching, the students say their situation has become increasingly desperate, with some unable to afford food and other basic needs.

They are therefore appealing to the media to highlight their plight and put pressure on the relevant authorities to intervene urgently.

Read the full statement below:

STRANDED & HUNGRY: 14 Months Without Stipends, Ghanaian Students in Russia Plead for Help

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Russia Chapter, on behalf of a group of deeply distressed Ghanaian international scholarship students currently stranded in Russia. We are desperately seeking your platform to bring our dire situation to the attention of the public and the relevant authorities.

For the past 14 months, we have not received our monthly stipends, pushing many of us to the brink of survival.

Yesterday, the Ghanaian Embassy finally acknowledged the crisis and informed us that the Scholarship Secretariat had only managed to release a token payment of US$300 for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. This amount is woefully inadequate and will not cover even a fraction of our basic needs.

We are doing our best to continue our studies in this conflict-affected country, but the situation has become increasingly difficult due to the rising cost of living and increasing expenses.

Among the major increases we are facing are:

1. Visa fees: Increased from 1,920 rubles to 6,000 rubles.
2. Temporary registration: Increased from 500 rubles to 1,000 rubles.
3. Medical insurance: Now mandatory at a base rate of 8,000 rubles, although the actual cost varies depending on the city and hospital. For instance, some medical students pay 18,000 rubles annually through their universities. I personally paid 17,000 rubles last year for insurance and medical certificates, but this December, the cost is expected to rise to nearly 20,000 rubles due to new fees for foreigners.
4. Hostel fees: We pay 2,200 rubles per month.
5. Electricity: We pay an additional 1,000 rubles every month.
6. Transportation: Preparatory students pay 3,800 rubles monthly. As second-year students in Moscow, we have access to social cards that reduce our transportation cost to 980 rubles per month. However, students in other cities pay considerably more because they do not have access to similar social cards.

With winter approaching, many of us are now stranded and hungry. We are struggling to afford our accommodation, visa fees, medical insurance and, most importantly, food.

We urgently appeal to the media to help tell our story and draw attention to our plight. We also call on the relevant authorities to intervene and address the situation before the harsh winter conditions make our already difficult circumstances even worse.

We are students who came to Russia with the hope of pursuing our education and contributing to Ghana’s development. We simply need the support and resources necessary to survive and complete our studies.

Sincerely,

National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS)
Russia Chapter