Alfred Thompson, a member of the New Patriotic Party communications team, has criticised rising hostel fees and poor living conditions on university campuses, warning that many students are struggling to afford accommodation despite government promises of accessible education.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on May 8, Mr Thompson said students from low income families were being placed under severe financial pressure as accommodation costs continued to rise across university campuses.
“They did not say ‘stress after stress’. They said ‘No Fees Stress” he said, arguing that students who gain admission into university should not be left searching for money to cover accommodation and related costs.
He said some private hostels on campuses were charging between GH¢7,000 and GH¢10,000 a year, with shared rooms accommodating as many as four students.
Mr Thompson cited examples of hostels charging about GH¢7,392, GH¢7,600 and GH¢8,876 annually, while others such as Vikings and one other were charging more than GH¢10,000 and GH¢8,000 respectively.
According to him, the charges become even more difficult for families with multiple children in school at the same time.
He questioned the original purpose of allowing private developers to build hostels on university campuses, saying the arrangement was intended to support universities rather than maximise profits.
“The truth is that universities need more hostel facilities. Students need decent places to stay while attending lectures,” he said.
Mr Thompson also expressed concern about sanitation and overcrowding in some student accommodation facilities, warning that poor conditions could expose students to infections and other health risks.
He said some students were now resorting to “perching”, where additional students temporarily sleep in already crowded rooms because they cannot afford accommodation.
The aspiring NPP National Treasurer said the situation was affecting students’ welfare, finances and academic performance.
He also criticised the steady increase in hostel fees, saying some charges had risen by more than 30% despite lower national inflation figures being announced.
Mr Thompson called on government to intervene and listen to the concerns of students.
His comments follow growing public concern over the high cost of private university hostels.
The issue has prompted the Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department to visit several private hostels to assess complaints about rent increases and accommodation charges after the department received a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students.
