For many, it was just another graduation ceremony. For observers of Ghana’s media and democratic space, it was the crowning moment of a relentless intellectual journey — the transformation of a field journalist into a scholar of electoral systems.

Now officially Dr. Akwasi Agyeman, the celebrated journalist has rewritten his own professional story, moving from microphone and field notes to theory, data, and doctoral distinction.

From the Heat of Elections to the Heights of Scholarship

Dr. Agyeman’s rise to academic distinction did not begin in lecture halls, it began at polling stations, press centers, and tense election grounds across West Africa.

Years before enrolling for his PhD, he was already deep inside the democratic process, reporting from the frontlines of some of the region’s most closely watched elections.

His coverage of elections in Togo (2005), Liberia (2007), and Nigeria (2007), alongside seasoned broadcaster Yaw Obeng Manu of Peace FM, exposed him to the real mechanics, tensions, and complexities of African electoral systems.

Unknown to him at the time, those assignments were quietly laying the intellectual foundation for his future doctoral research.

What he witnessed in the field would later evolve into questions. Those questions would grow into research. That research would ultimately become a PhD.

An Academic Path Forged Through Persistence

His doctoral pursuit at the College of Humanities, Institute of African Studies, focused on History and Politics, was marked by rigorous inquiry and resilience.

Colleagues say the journey was demanding, stretching his analytical depth and scholarly discipline — but also sharpening his authority on electoral behavior and democratic processes.

Rather than choosing a safe or narrow topic, Dr. Agyeman tackled one of the most controversial and least-explored dimensions of African elections — rejected ballots.

A Thesis That Turned Heads

His thesis — “The Dynamics of Rejected Ballots in Africa: The Case of Ghana’s Presidential Elections (1992–2020)” — is already being described as a landmark contribution to electoral studies.

The work dives deep into nearly three decades of Ghana’s presidential elections, unpacking patterns, causes, institutional weaknesses, voter behavior, and systemic implications surrounding rejected ballots.

According to sources within the academic panel, the research stood out for its methodological strength, historical depth, and policy relevance.

His supervisory team, made up of top-notch professors, including an Emeritus scholar, reportedly rated the work highly for its originality and practical significance.

During his oral defense, Dr. Agyeman delivered what insiders described as a commanding and intellectually sharp presentation, confidently defending his findings and engaging examiners with clarity and authority, a performance that earned admiration across the academic community.

Bridging Media Practice and Democratic Reform

What makes Dr. Agyeman’s achievement particularly powerful is the rare bridge he represents, between journalism and scholarship.

He is not merely studying elections from a distance; he has lived them, covered them, questioned them, and now analyzed them at the highest academic level.

Democracy advocates say his research could influence future electoral reforms, ballot design policies, voter education strategies, and institutional safeguards — all critical to strengthening Ghana’s democratic resilience.

A New Voice in Electoral Scholarship

With his induction into the global community of scholars, Dr. Akwasi Agyeman joins a distinguished intellectual class expected to shape public discourse and policy direction.

His transition from newsroom authority to academic expert positions him uniquely to contribute to debates on electoral credibility and democratic consolidation across Africa.

Observers say this is not just a personal victory, it is a win for Ghana’s media fraternity and the broader democratic ecosystem.

A Story Bigger Than a Degree

From chasing election results across borders to producing research that may shape how elections are conducted and evaluated, Dr. Akwasi Agyeman’s story is one of vision, endurance, and reinvention.

It is the story of a journalist who did not stop at reporting democracy — but chose to study it, question it, and now help strengthen it.

From ballot lines to academic laurels, the journey is complete, but the impact is just beginning.

The group says withdrawals from academic programmes have increased due to the government’s silence on the issue, despite several complaints.

They explained that although they were sponsored by the government of Ghana with promises of full tuition coverage and monthly stipends ranging between £1,023 and £1,200, many have gone months and even years without receiving these funds.

According to the student group, the situation has left several members facing hunger, homelessness, and mental distress, with some forced to withdraw from their programmes.

In 2025, it was reported that 15 students had already been withdrawn due to unpaid fees, while 30 others had received no payment for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Some students are also unable to access their university portals, submit their theses or obtain certificates because of outstanding tuition debts.

Although £1.6 million was released last year by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to the Ghana High Commission in London, the amount was insufficient to address the backlog of fees and did not cover stipend arrears.

Read below copies of termination emails from universities:

The mass exodus is a result of the Ghanaian government’s protracted failure to settle outstanding tuition fees and living stipends through the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.

In a desperate escalation, the Executive Body of the PhD Cohort-UK has convened an emergency session, resolving to launch a sustained series of demonstrations across major UK cities and at the Ghana High Commission in Belgrave Square, London.

The crisis follows nearly two years of “financial neglect”, during which many students have been left with mounting debts, eviction notices from student housing, and blocked access to university resources.

Despite numerous petitions sent to the Office of the President at the Jubilee House and the Ministry of Finance, the financial obligations to UK universities remain unhonoured.

The situation has reached a breaking point, with university administrators in the UK reportedly issuing “final warnings” to Ghanaian scholars.

Unlike previous years, where “letters of comfort” from the Secretariat were accepted, many UK institutions—facing their own budgetary pressures—are now demanding immediate settlement or the termination of student visas.

Having exhausted local avenues, the students took the extraordinary step of petitioning the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.

The petition urged the British government to intervene on humanitarian grounds, citing that the sudden withdrawal of scholarship funding has left many international students in a state of “legal and financial limbo”.

The students requested a reprieve on visa cancellations for those affected, arguing that the default lies with a sovereign state agreement and not the individual academic performance or conduct of the scholars.

In the latest development, the Executive of the PhD Cohort-UK issued a stern directive on Friday, January 17, calling for a two-day nationwide protest.

The leadership has called on all affected students to register for the protest by contacting the president and the welfare officer to build the necessary momentum to force a response from Accra.

For many, the withdrawal from their programmes represents the death of a lifelong dream. One student, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed, “I am in my final year of research. My university has blocked my library access and my portal. If the fees aren’t paid by the end of this month, my Tier 4 visa will be curtailed, and I will be deported with nothing but debt.”

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This debate centers primarily on two foundational principles of nationality jurisprudence: jus soli (citizenship by place of birth) and jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent).

The prevailing argument among segments of the Ghanaian populace posits that Mr. Choi does not qualify as a Ghanaian by either criterion—he was not born on Ghanaian soil (jus soli) and does not trace his ancestry to Ghanaian lineage (jus sanguinis).

These contentions prompt a pertinent legal and normative inquiry: Upon what constitutional and statutory grounds does Mr. Choi derive his Ghanaian citizenship and the attendant civic and political rights?

To interrogate this issue thoroughly, it is imperative to contextualize Mr. Choi’s citizenship within the framework of Ghana’s 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.

Chapter Three of the constitution delineates the modalities of acquiring Ghanaian citizenship through birth, descent, registration, and naturalization.

Furthermore, the Constitution permits the renunciation and revocation of citizenship and guarantees full civic and political rights to all recognized citizens, irrespective of the mode of acquisition.

Complementing the Constitution is the Citizenship Act, 2000 (Act 591), which operationalizes and elaborates the constitutional provisions governing nationality.

Central to the controversy surrounding Ambassador-designate Choi is the normative question of dual allegiance and national loyalty.

Does Mr. Choi’s naturalization as a Ghanaian citizen— accompanied by a formal renunciation of his Korean nationality—constitute a sufficient basis for absolute fidelity to Ghana’s national interests, particularly in scenarios where such interests may be in tension or conflict with those of his country of birth?

Can his oath of allegiance to the Republic of Ghana be presumed inviolable and unreserved?

Legally, Mr. Choi satisfies all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for Ghanaian citizenship and thus eligibility for diplomatic appointment.

His prior service as Ghana’s Deputy Head of Mission during the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, alongside over three decades of socio-economic contributions within Ghana, substantiates his de facto
integration and national commitment.

Moreover, Mr. Choi has invoked the ideological ethos of Pan-Africanism in asserting his Ghanaian identity, citing Kwame Nkrumah’s iconic declaration: “I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.”

He reinforces this by affirming, “Ghana may not be my birthplace, but it is my true home… I am proud to be called Ghanaian.” Ghana has historically positioned itself as a bastion of Pan-African inclusivity and cosmopolitan citizenship.

In an era characterized by accelerating globalization, transnational identities, and
the erosion of ethnonational exclusivity, the Mahama administration’s nomination of
Ambassador-designate Choi underscores a progressive commitment to meritocratic and
inclusive governance.

Congratulations, Ambassador Choi. The burden of proof now lies in your diplomatic service.

Long live the Republic of Ghana.
Long live Ghana-Korea relations.
Thank you for reading

Ohene Opoku Agyemang, PhD

Contact +8613025167627
Email: oopoku56@gmail.com

Speaking on JoyPrime’s Prime Morning Show, he dismissed accusations challenging his credibility and reiterated his background as a seasoned lecturer.

“I am a lecturer and I have taught students for a very long time. Matters like this, when you give them attention, I cannot respond to people like that,” he said. “My students have never failed. I don’t give credibility to people like that.”

He stated that he earned his PhD from Kingsnow University, an online institution, enrolling in 2012 and completing the programme in 2016.

“I think I have to go back to the classroom and teach some people sense in education,” he added.

However, inconsistencies have emerged regarding his academic claims. On 11 December 2016, Mr Computer made a Facebook post thanking “God and one Professor Alex” for conferring upon him a PhD in Public Administration from Kingsnow University – a detail that appears to differ from earlier statements about his qualification.

The controversy surrounding Mr Computer’s credentials follows a similar incident involving one Dr Sansa Daly, who was recently accused of falsely claiming to be a medical doctor after asserting she graduated from a top university in the United States.

The public, particularly users on Facebook, have demanded thorough verification to confirm the legitimacy of such claims.

In response to critics on social media, particularly from one Sir Obama Pokuase, a known NPP sympathiser, questioning his credibility, Mr Computer remarked: “So his [Sir Obama Pokuase’s] government was in power for eight years, and at that time, was he sleeping or was he in Jamaica? He didn’t know this, and I worked under them for eight years. I don’t respond to “idiots”, that’s why I don’t know him.”

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has in recent times raised concerns about the use of fake academic titles. While Mr Tanko maintains that his degree is genuine, questions remain about the accreditation status of Kinsnow University, which some critics argue is not recognised to offer such qualifications.

According to GTEC, the misuse of honorary titles contravenes the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) and damages public confidence in the country’s educational system.

The Commission stressed that only accredited institutions are permitted to award honorary degrees, and recipients should not present them as academic qualifications.

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I commend the media for bringing this critical sector to the fore of the national debate.

The power sector is the fulcrum of any economy, particularly in developing countries such as ours.

It can “make” or “break” a nation. Germany, often regarded as the lifeline of the European Union’s economy, has experienced significant economic challenges in recent years and a major cause according to Analysts, is the cost of power – not even the shortage of it.

Consequently, any Ghanaian with a genuine interest in seeing Ghana reach her full potential and alleviate poverty, must and rightfully so, be concerned about the current state of our power sector and its future.

The challenges in the sector must be discussed objectively and dispassionately, devoid of political and partisan interests.

In Ghana, in simple terms, the power sector could be categorized into generation, transmission, and distribution/collection.

Power is generated by the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) or Volta River Authority (VRA) (via hydro, thermal, solar and hydro plants), transmitted by GRIDCO, distributed to our homes and businesses, and the revenue is collected by ECG/NEDCO.

An issue with any of them could result in power cuts (or Dumsor) as we know it. For illustration purposes:

1. Inadequate fuel supply to power generators or limited generation capacity results in inadequate electricity production, leading to insufficient power supply for our homes and businesses.
2. Power transmission losses due to outdated/substandard transmission lines or the inefficiency of GRIDCO mean power supplied in our homes/firms would be less than the power generated or no power at all if there are issues with the transmission lines.
3. Distribution losses due to outdated or substandard distribution lines, as well as the inefficiency of ECG/NEDCO mean power supplied in our homes/firms would be less than the power generated and transmitted or no power at all if there are issues with the distribution lines.
4. Collection losses due to corruption, inadequate metering, exchange rate depreciation (as power is priced in USD), or the inability of the distributor to collect revenues could result in revenues not being enough to pay for the power generated. As such, there won’t be enough money to pay power generators not to mention GRIDCO (transmitters) and distributors. If power generators do not receive payment, they may either stop producing power or reduce their output.
5. The inability of the ECG/NEDCO to pay for the power is because it has not actually distributed power. YES!, the Government of Ghana over the period 2013-2015 signed numerous power purchase agreements termed “take or pay”; meaning whether we use the power or not, the Government must pay for it.

Ghana currently has sufficient electricity generation capacity. As such, any future or potential power cuts are likely due to one or a combination of these issues: inadequate fuel supply, outdated/substandard transmission/distribution lines, inefficiency of the transmission and distribution companies or the inability of ECG/NEDCO (collectors) to pay players along the electricity value chain (IPPs & GRIDCO, VRA). There is one common denominator running through these issues: Money. Why so?

Assuming transmission and distribution losses are 10% respectively and IPPs/VRA produce 1000MW of power, this means ECG/NEDCO at the end of the electricity value chain would have distributed power which is significantly less than the initial 1000MW.

This implies that even before revenue collection begins, there is already a shortfall.

Furthermore, when we account for collection losses — as ECG struggles to accurately collect payments for electricity consumed due to theft, metering issues, or inefficiencies in the revenue collection process — there will not be enough revenue to pay for the power that has been distributed.

Thus, for VRA/IPPs to continue producing, the Government must stand in to cover the gap; and this is exactly what has been happening.

At present, Technical and Distribution losses exceed 35% whiles the approved distribution losses by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for ECG is approximately 24%.

Consumers end up paying for these inefficiencies through higher prices, while the government covers the resulting revenue deficit by borrowing (bonds) and where they have failed to do so because it is unsustainable and a drain on the public purse, the debt piles up and power generators refuse to keep generating power.

As of the end of 2016, Ghana’s Energy Sector Debt stood at $2.5 billion. The World Bank forecasted that this would rise to $12.5 billion as of 2023 if no decisive action was taken.

Currently, the energy sector debt is around the 2016 level of below $3billion. This indicates that decisive steps were taken over the period 2017-2024 to maintain the debt at the same level, though more must be done to put the power sector back on a good footing.

Some of these actions were: reviewing the PURC tariffs to address the exchange rate depreciation and reflect the current cost of producing power, reviewing and prohibiting further “take or pay” agreements, instituting a Cash Waterfall Mechanism to prioritize critical payments in the sector, and the digitalization of ECG revenue collections and operations.

For example, through the bold digitalization drive of ECG by Dr Bawumia, the former Vice-President of Ghana, ECG’s monthly revenue collection increased from GHC450 million to approximately GHC1 Billion. I am sure readers may be asking the following questions:

1. Hitherto where was the difference of GHC550 million going to? Was the government paying for this difference? Your guess is as good as mine.

2. In light of the decisive actions taken by the previous Government, such as the improved collection and the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), the Ghanaian Power sector has improved significantly. Nevertheless, there are still critical issues that need to be addressed in the sector.

Thus, more must be done to comprehensively resolve the problems, and the current Government must continue with bold initiatives and think outside the box to keep the lights on and not allow dumsor to rear its head.

Future policy action should, among many others, target adopting a least-cost fuel procurement strategy, improving the efficiency of state institutions such as GRIDCO, and ECG/NEDCO to reduce the transmission, distribution and collection losses, reduce the cost of power, ensure timely payment of MDA bills, enhance the CWM and address the rate of depreciation of the cedi.

About the author:

Kwasi Nyame-Baafi, PhD

Development Economist

baafikwasi1@gmail.com

In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Domfe said Ato Forson’s competence is proven through his extensive work in Parliament, particularly in matters of public finance, and his prior role as deputy finance minister.

Despite some criticisms from sections of the public regarding Ato Forson’s academic credentials, Dr. Domfe stated that the Finance Minister-designate’s qualifications are more than sufficient.

“Dr. Forson is more than qualified to be nominated as the new Finance Minister and doesn’t need a PhD in Economics to become successful,” he said.

He pointed out that Ato Forson has accumulated significant experience, especially as a five-term lawmaker, and has a solid understanding of economics, accounting, and finance.

Dr. Domfe also addressed concerns about Ato Forson’s academic background, noting that while some have criticized his PhD in Business and Management rather than in Finance, it should not undermine his expertise.

“Ghanaians like titles too much, but that’s not what makes someone competent in their role,” Dr. Domfe explained.

He cited the example of Kwame Mpiani, who, despite lacking a PhD in economics, demonstrated considerable competence in economic matters.

Also, Dr. Domfe praised Ato Forson’s strong interpersonal skills, stressing that being a successful minister isn’t just about academic credentials but also about building respectful relationships.

“To be a successful minister, it’s not necessarily about your academic books; it’s about respect and human relations,” he noted.

While acknowledging that Ato Forson’s PhD is listed as in Business and Management, Dr. Domfe suggested the Presidency should verify this detail, as there is some confusion about the exact nature of his doctoral studies at KNUST.

He urged the government to correct any errors to prevent further confusion.

The Economist concluded by praising the nomination of Ato Forson and his potential to help turn the economy around.

“President Mahama made a good choice for Ghana,”

ECONOMIST ON ATO FORSON POST

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Mr Otukonor on Friday, July 29, 2022, bagged a PhD in Agric Economics and Policy.

This comes a few weeks after he announced the successful defence of his thesis.

The subject of his thesis was centered on “Technical efficiency and competitiveness of irrigated and rain-fed production technologies in Ghana.”

A video on his Facebook page showed him interacting with his supervisors for the oral defense of his thesis.

Taking to social media to express how proud he was of himself, he described it as the biggest day of his life.

By way of celebrating his feat, he said he decided to break a 15-year-old jinx of not wearing a Western suit and tie.

The accompanying caption of the post read: “Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to those who love God …We made it. I came, I saw and conquered! PhD Agric Economics and Policy bagged successfully.”

He wrote: So today is the biggest day in my life (Graduating from UG with a PhD in Agric Economics) and have decided to do so by breaking a 15-year-old jinx of not wearing western suit and tie. But guess what, when I did, I chose purely made in Ghana. Hehehe the smock can rest small….

Mr Otukonor is not the only top NDC member to achieve a PhD feat.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Krowor, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, also announced recently that she had successfully completed an oral defence of her PhD thesis also with the University of Ghana.

Attached below is Mr Otukonor’s post:

The institute also intends to add a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme once the MPhil programme gets underway.

The Deputy Rector of GIJ, Professor Eric Opoku Mensah, disclosed this when the 2001 Year Alumni group donated some books to the institute last Friday.

Donation

The donation was to help augment the collection of books in the institute’s library and help students in their studies.

Led by Enoch Darfah Frimpong, who is also the Assistant Online Editor at Graphic Communications Group Limited, the year group donated books such as ‘The Art of Public Speaking,’ ‘Understanding Political Institutions’, ‘Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction’ and ‘Advertising, Promotion and Other Aspects of Integrated Marketing’.

Receiving the books, Prof. Mensah emphasised the need for alumni to come together to support their alma mater.

“I think that what we should do where there are some capacity issues lacking is to constantly contribute in one way or the other to grow and strengthen the institution,” he said.

He said many old students tend to focus attention on their secondary schools instead of their tertiary institutions and, therefore, commended the 2001-year group’s gesture.

New programmes

On the introduction of the MPhil and PhD programmes, Prof. Mensah explained that it was a need that ought to be satisfied by the Institute, which was aimed at training human resources for the media field.

“So all alumni who intend to get back into the teaching profession so far as media studies is concerned should look back to GIJ next year,” he stated.

The Deputy Rector called on other year groups to get on board to contribute to the growth of the institute.

Be proud of GIJ

Prof. Mensah urged all Alumni to be proud of their school, adding that “it is important that what you have become, or what you become should be largely credited to a school because if you take out our certificates, so far as our first-degree certificates are concerned, technically you are removing your very foundation.

“So, I am worried when anybody makes very disparaging remarks about his or her school. It is not the best of things a person could say in public. And I think that, what we should do if we feel there are capacity issues still lacking, we should constantly contribute in one way or the other,” he said.

Librarian

A senior librarian of GIJ, Madam Lydia Nyantakyi-Baah, expressed gratitude for the kind gesture and commended the efforts of the 2001-Alumni year group.

She mentioned that the donation by the 2001 alumni would serve as a call to the other year groups to also help the school.

GIJ is a premier university specialised in communication courses.

The school was founded by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in October 1959. It currently offers, among others, Master of Arts (MA) programmes in Public Relations, Journalism, Media Management, and Development Communication.

Pastor Omosebi Fred Adeola was put before the Federal High Court on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of funds to the tune of N15,619,000 (GHS 215, 000).

Adeola, a Pastor of the Adventist Church and Country Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria, allegedly diverted the church’s relief funds for payment of his PhD programme in Babcock University.

He is also said to have illegally enlisted his wife on the Church’s payroll.

The pastor is said to have allegedly started the activities since December 2017, but his actions were recently traced.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and as such was granted bail of N10million and two sureties.

The case has been adjourned to September 30, 2021, for trial.

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The final motion that was debated was, in the words of the mover himself, “materially different” from the one he had first canvassed on 20th January 2021. Then, the motion was “that this House resolves to request the President of the Republic of Ghana to take urgent steps to suspend the payment of admission fees by new entrants into public tertiary education institutions and continuing students of those institutions for the 2021 academic year as part of the national COVID-19 relief programmes being implemented by Government.

The final rendition that was finally debated and voted on by the house asked “that this House resolves to request the President of the Republic of Ghana to take urgent steps to absorb the fees of students of public tertiary education institutions for the 2020/2021 academic year and to extend support to accredited private universities as part of the national COVID-19 alleviation measures being implemented by the Government of Ghana.”

On the face of it, its evolving list of demands notwithstanding, the motion seems well intentioned. The covid-19 pandemic has ravaged many families. It is for precisely this reason that government embarked on several covid-19 relief initiatives to cushion working families. Apart from the much talked about free water and free electricity, government also made available grants and concessionary loans to support small businesses and their owners. It is worth noting that at the time, some on the other side of the political divide derided these necessary interventions as mere political gimmicks. We will however restrain ourselves and assess his motion on its merits.

With the layers stripped off, the intention of the motion became clear. It was not to merely to “suspend the payment of fees” but in fact to get the government to take on their payment. The motion also went further to seek some “support” for students in private tertiary institutions. The obvious question, which was not answered by the motion was how much all of these would cost. For example, there are several fees that students in tertiary institutions pay including association dues. There are some students who unfortunately owe fees from previous semesters. Were all these to be included in the relief package? To not define which ones the house was to ask government to pay – or indeed the nature of the support for students in private institutions – amounted to asking government for blank cheque that we would then later fill in as we saw fit. And that is no way to run a responsible government.

The motion also ignored the constitutional hindrance, which prevents the House from imposing a financial imperative on the government unless we are able to determine where government can find that money from. Throughout the debate, however, supporters of the motion pointedly neglected to identify which government programmes they proposed to suspend in order to free up funds for this laudable venture. Neither did they propose a new tax or taxes to fund a venture so amorphous and so ill-defined that it could put our fiscal health in jeopardy.

As we all know, government has already provided and is providing various forms of assistance to the Ghanaian public, among whom are these tertiary students and/or their parents. These programmes are already exacting a toll on the fiscal space, which the honourable member now seeks to add to with an undefined bill on which would rest the very survival of our tertiary education system. Interestingly, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, speaking in support of the motion, insisted that the economy was in recession. Why would we impose such a burden on an economy in recession, one can’t help but wonder?

What is beyond doubt, however, is Akufo-Addo administration’s unrivalled commitment to education in this country. It was this government that moved ahead to provide fee-free education at the secondary school level while others said it was impossible. It was this government that restored allowances for teachers and nursing trainees while others said it made no sense. It was this government that abolished the payment of utility bills by students in tertiary institutions while others said that was the only way to keep the institutions going.

More to the point, the New Patriotic Party has already thought these things through and has in characteristic fashion, devised some innovative solutions to the burden on tertiary students that do not involve endangering the economy and are more sustainable.

In our 2020 manifesto, we proposed to remove all impediments to the acquisition of student loans, including the need for guarantors. When effected, this will mean that with only a Ghana Card, any student can access the loan and apply some of it to these fees. On page 154 of the manifesto, we undertake to
“Make sure no student who has obtained admission to a tertiary institution is denied access because they are unable to pay fees. We will provide all such students, with the exception of teacher and nurse trainees who are paid allowances, an option to obtain a student loan:
• Without the requirement of a guarantor for the loan, provided he or she has a National Identification Number from the Ghana Card, and
• Defer repayment of the loan after National Service plus an additional one-year grace period”.
It is also worthy of note that the amount available to each student was increased by 50 % in the President’s first term.

In addition, we have expanded, decentralised and streamlined the operations of the National Scholarship Secretariat, meaning that students who genuinely need assistance are able to get it.

The combination of these measures give hope to the Ghanaian student and mean that we do not have to risk our economic recovery on an ill-defined intervention. Good government means doing what is sustainable and efficient and not what feels good or popular.

If Honourable Ayariga and his colleagues want to help, I’d suggest that when government brings these measures to the floor, they join us in support of them so we can extend help quickly to the very people his motion purported to assist.

The writer is the Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim and former Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Many of the pressures PhD students face have been published in the Guardian’s Academics Anonymous series, including the stress associated with getting your papers published, and the bullying behaviour or lack of useful feedback from supervisors who aren’t properly trained.

According to a study published in the journal Research Policy in May, this stress can have an impact on PhD students’ mental health. Approximately a third of students working towards their doctorate could be at risk of developing a psychiatric condition such as depression, the authors concluded.

The sample size was small, with the team analysing results from 3,659 students at universities in Flanders, Belgium, studying science or humanities subjects. However, the results are a valuable addition to the research into how academic study affects our mental health.

About 51% of people surveyed said they had experienced at least two symptoms of poor mental health over the past week, and 32% reported at least four symptoms. This prevalence was about twice as high as the highly educated general population.

Some of the most common symptoms students reported were feeling under constant strain, losing sleep due to worry, being unhappy or depressed, and not being able to enjoy their day-to-day activities.

The researchers also found that the greatest predictor for experiencing mental health problems was finding it difficult to take care of family needs due to work commitments. The high demands of the PhD itself and little control over the work were also associated with more symptoms.

Guilt, failure, and bullying

Claire*, who is currently in the final six months of her PhD at Imperial College London, told Business Insider that she can see how studying at this level has the potential to affect someone’s mental health.

She said that she and some of her colleagues all thought about quitting about half way through their PhD.

“It seems to be when you feel like you should have accomplished something by then, but you haven’t, and the end isn’t exactly in sight,” she said. “For me, the frustration comes from the fact that I know I should get up at 7 a.m. and start working, but I hit snooze 10 times because I technically don’t have to be in an office. Then when I do get up I feel super guilty and behind and then I’m unproductive and the cycle continues.”

Claire also started getting physically ill, with a bad cough and a fever, but blood tests indicated there was nothing wrong. The doctors told her it could have been linked to feeling stressed.

“Coming into the last six months I’m glad I did it, but there were definitely a lot of tears a long the way,” Claire said.

“I’ve said to a few people that I think PhDs aren’t necessarily the most ‘academically’ challenging, comparative to for example my Masters, but they’re emotionally challenging.” Challenging in the sense of whether you can stick it out, handle the failure associated with it, and work independently.

However, having an interest in an academic career and having a clear vision for the future could offset the risks of developing a mental health problem, the authors note in the study. Having an inspirational supervisor was also an important factor.

Unfortunately, not everyone who starts their PhD necessarily appreciates their supervisor. In fact, some are not just unhelpful, but abusive to their students.

One student, Alex*, who has been doing her PhD at a university in the Netherlands for the past two years, and has started seeing a psychologist because of how it has impacted her.

She told Business Insider that she is worrying all the time, and sometimes she doesn’t eat or sleep as a result. She can never completely relax, and checks her emails countless times a day, even when on holiday. She puts this mainly down to her tutors, who are not only unsupportive, but insidious bullies.

“If it was a regular job, I would have quit over a year ago,” Alex said. “Every single day I think about quitting. I absolutely dread going to the office.”

She said the content of her PhD is intense enough on its own, as she studies refugee mothers, children, and sexual violence. The constant undermining and pressure from her supervisors is the worst part, though. She has just started seeing a psychologist for therapy sessions, and said being able to speak about it has been like two years of weight lifting from her shoulders.

What is it about academia that attracts this kind of behaviour?

“I have a feeling it’s because we’re mostly so honoured to be accepted, that we don’t question anything that seems off,” Alex said. “We know our place at the bottom of the ladder and so anything can happen higher up without being challenged. And then if or when things go badly wrong, it’s still our fault and not those ultimately responsible.”

One way to try and combat this could be to invest in proper leadership training for academic supervisors. After all, they are trained in their subject, not in being a teacher or a mentor.

In an article for Quartz, Jennifer Walker wrote about when she attempted suicide during her PhD due to suffering with imposter syndrome and depression. She said university tutors should be trained in the warning signs of depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse.

She added: “They need to create a culture of openness that not only removes the stigma associated with mental-health problems but encourages students to ask for help.”

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* Names changed at the interviewee’s request.