GOV’T MOVES TO CURB HOSTEL FEES AS STUDENTS GROAN UNDER RISING ACCOMMODATION COSTS
By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada | May 12, 2026
The growing burden of hostel accommodation fees on students across Ghana has pushed government into action, with the Ministry of Education announcing the formation of a special committee to address the situation nationwide.
The committee, made up of representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and university authorities, is expected to engage stakeholders and propose practical measures to prevent what many students describe as unbearable accommodation charges.
Speaking during the inauguration of governing councils for Jasikan College of Education and the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences on Tuesday, May 11, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu warned that public-private partnerships in hostel infrastructure must not become avenues for exploitation.
“There are ongoing public concerns about adjustments to hostel fees,” the minister stated, explaining that consultations are ongoing to reach “an amicable solution.”
Mr Iddrisu stressed that education remains a social responsibility and not merely a commercial enterprise.
“Government will ensure a socially responsible approach in the provision of public goods,” he said, insisting that private investors in educational infrastructure must operate within reasonable and humane limits.
The announcement comes at a time when students in several tertiary institutions continue to complain about sharp increases in hostel prices, with some forced to seek accommodation far away from campus due to affordability challenges.
The Education Minister also revealed that the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences is expected to admit its first batch of about 800 students by October this year. He further disclosed that government is considering the establishment of additional public universities, including one for the Western North Region.
According to him, proposals for the new universities will soon be submitted to the presidency through the appropriate policy channels.
Commentary | Stephen Boakye
The rising hostel fees have become one of the silent pressures affecting Ghanaian students. Many brilliant students are gradually being pushed into financial hardship simply because accommodation around campuses is increasingly becoming business-centered rather than student-centered. Government’s intervention may therefore be necessary to restore fairness, accessibility, and balance in tertiary education.
