The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu has set up a committee to investigate rising costs of hostel accommodation at tertiary institutions, following widespread complaints from students over affordability and limited housing space.
The move comes amid growing concern among students and parents over what they describe as escalating hostel fees and a shortage of decent on-campus and private accommodation, which has increased financial pressure on households.
He announced the initiative during the swearing-in ceremony of governing councils for the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, saying the government would step in to ensure fairness and affordability in student housing.
The committee is expected to engage university authorities, private hostel operators, student representatives and regulatory bodies to assess the situation and propose policy measures to address the challenges.
“Be assured that the government will simply not run on the principles of private partnership, where unlimited fee guidelines will dictate the pace,” Iddrisu said. “We will be social, and we will reflect social values and concerns in the delivery of that public good.”
The minister did not give a timeline for the committee’s work. Accommodation shortages and rising costs have become a recurring issue in Ghana’s tertiary education sector, where limited public infrastructure has led to increased reliance on privately run hostels, often at higher rates.
Student groups have repeatedly called for tighter regulation of hostel pricing and increased government investment in on-campus housing, arguing that current conditions are making access to higher education more expensive.
