The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Rashid Ibrahim, has vowed to advocate for affordable hostel accommodation across tertiary institutions in Ghana, citing growing concerns over rising costs and student welfare.
According to him, accommodation challenges rank among the most pressing issues confronting his administration.
“Out of every 10 immediate encumbrances I was confronted with as a newly elected student president, about eight were related to hostel facility issues,” he revealed.
Mr Ibrahim described the situation facing on-campus and off-campus students as dire, noting that many struggle to secure decent accommodation ahead of academic activities.
He accused some private hostel operators of exploiting students, with average accommodation fees exceeding GH¢7,000 per semester.
“Hostel facilities do not operate under a truly free market system. Property owners are finding illegal means to extort students,” he stated, referencing the Rent Control Act, 1963 (Act 220), which regulates rent approvals in Ghana.
The NUGS President warned that the continuous rise in hostel fees risks deepening inequality among students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
“The level of overpricing is enough to push students out of school, creating disparities between those who can afford and those who cannot,” he added.
Mr Ibrahim made these remarks during an interview with Dr Hanna Atiase on Metro TV’s Home Owners Show on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
He called on government, institutions, and stakeholders to take urgent and proactive steps to address the situation, cautioning that failure to act could have long-term consequences on access to tertiary education.
“If nothing is done, the situation will worsen and force both current and prospective students to abandon their educational ambitions,” he stressed.
Mr Ibrahim further assured that NUGS remains committed to addressing the challenge and will work to ease the financial burden on students.
He also urged government intervention to ensure equitable access to education, especially for brilliant but financially disadvantaged students.
The NUGS President attributed the surge in hostel fees to increasing demand for limited student accommodation across the country.
By: Martha Seyram Jackson | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
