Students paying up to GHC7,000 for poor hostel conditions – NUGS warns of education impact

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday (24 April), NUGS president Rashid Ibrahim said students are paying as much as 7,000 Ghana cedis per person for shared rooms in private hostels—often under poor living conditions.

“I can testify to that… five occupants paying GHC 7,000 each in a room with broken beds and poor facilities,” he said.

Ibrahim said the high cost of accommodation, coupled with limited space in traditional university halls, is pushing students into expensive private hostels where prices are largely unchecked.

“Imagine paying GHC 2,000 for school fees and 8,000 cedis for accommodation,” he said. “Some students are forced to drop out.”

He warned that the situation is distorting learning conditions, with overcrowded and poorly maintained facilities affecting students’ ability to study effectively.

NUGS attributes the crisis to a combination of regulatory failure and supply shortages, noting that desperate students often accept exploitative terms due to lack of alternatives.

To address the issue, the union is calling for stricter enforcement of rent laws, expansion of rent courts to speed up dispute resolution, and the introduction of clear pricing guidelines for student accommodation.

Ibrahim also proposed incentives for private developers—including tax breaks and low-interest loans—to increase hostel supply and stabilise prices.

“If we increase supply, there will be competition and students will have options,” he said.

He assured students that NUGS would pursue reforms to ensure fair pricing and improved living conditions.

“We will go the extra mile to make sure this issue is resolved,” he added.