COVID-19 RENDERS GHANAIAN STUDENTS IN BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY HELPLESS

Ghanaian students studying in Bournemouth University are living in a hopeless situation as the UK government continue to impose strict measures towards fighting the novel Coronavirus currently spreading across the globe. A telephone interaction with some of these students mostly living on their own at various private and school accommodations, revealed hunger, difficulty in paying high accommodation fees , amidst difficulty in adapting to the online learning, as some of the challenges they are facing following the directive from the UK government to close schools and resort alternatively to online learning. 

“ I had my flight ticket to Ghana cancelled and ever since been lonely in fear and panic as I remain locked down in my room for weeks now, making it difficult for me to concentrate on my assignments “says Winnie Gunn, a postgraduate Law student.

“ My biggest challenge ever since the imposition of the lockdown  has been how to adapt to the online lectures, it is my first time and I am finding it difficult to cope,” Marcia Abdulai stated, 

“ Prices of foodstuff have been increased and I am forced to fast in most occasions because , after paying a chunk of my stipends which come quarterly within a year, for my accommodation, I do not have enough money left to hang on until July when I will receive my next batch of payment” – Prince Ofosu Appiah laments.

These were among many other concerns who , unlike their colleagues in other countries , travel back to their home countries due to the travel restrictions , lockdown and immigration and prohibition of social gathering imposed by the UK government to in attempts to deal with the spread of the virus.

The students are however calling on the school authorities to as a matter of urgency consider reducing their rent charges to enable them spare enough money to cater for their feed till they get hold of their next batch on stipends as they wait patiently until the situation returns to normal  .

The infectious disease which started at the Wuhan province in China was brought to the notice of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 31^st of December, 2019 and declared on the 11^th of March, 2020 as a pandemic  . The Independent newspaper report of 4^th May revealed that, out of about 3.5 million people infected, the number of death cases has risen to 247,000 and still counting. It has not only led to loss of lives, but affected the economies of over 200 countries across the globe .

Ernest Mbawini Bachela 

MA International Political Communication

Bournemouth University