According to the students, they have not received their stipends for the past 17 months, while their book allowance has been denied for five consecutive years. They said repeated appeals to the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat have yielded no results, leaving their academic and living conditions in jeopardy.

In a statement released on Tuesday, September 9, the students said the situation has forced many of them into severe hardship, with some surviving on bread and water for days and walking long distances to attend lectures and clinical rotations because they cannot afford transport.

“Students are forced to skip unhealthy meals filled with flies and maggots or survive on bread and water for days. Several have fainted during clinical duties due to exhaustion and poor nutrition,” the statement noted.

The group also highlighted challenges such as unaffordable internet access, lack of textbooks, and growing mental health struggles, including cases of anxiety and depression. They warned that the crisis threatens not only their education but also Ghana’s future healthcare system, as the students are training to become doctors.

“This is not merely a financial issue—it is a humanitarian emergency. These are young Ghanaians who came here with dreams of becoming doctors to serve their nation. Today, they are fighting just to survive,” the statement added.

The executives of NUGS Cuba called on President Mahama to urgently ensure the disbursement of outstanding stipends, restore the book allowance, and establish a sustainable framework to prevent future delays.

They stressed that their appeal was not for luxury but survival, urging the President to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration of their welfare.

“With deepest respect and urgency, we ask that you act decisively—not just for us, but for the generations of patients we are being trained to serve,” the statement concluded.

The appeal was signed by David Ntiri, NUGS Cuba President, and Linda Asaa Twum, General Secretary.