What NUGS president said about university accommodation fee hikes

President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Rashid Ibrahim, has raised concerns over rising hostel accommodation fees at the University of Ghana.

He warned that the trend is worsening inequality with regard to access to tertiary education.

In a post on X on May 7, 2026, Ibrahim described the situation as alarming.

“Hostel accommodation is gradually becoming a tool for denying students access to education and widening inequality, which undermines the constitutional right to education,” he indicated.

He cited trend analyses suggesting a steady increase in hostel fees over the past three years across major halls of residence, including Jubilee Hall, Mensah Sarbah Hall, and Akuafo Hall Annex C.

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According to him, some facilities have recorded cumulative increases exceeding 220% within four years.

“What justifies a 78% or 51% increment in hostel fees within a single academic year? This is unacceptable,” he stated.

Ibrahim further argued that the issue should not be left to student leadership alone, urging a broader national debate.

“This fight must not be left to NUGS alone. It is a matter of national concern that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders,” he added.

He also called for high-level intervention, saying, “We respectfully call on HE John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President to step in and address the growing hostel crisis confronting Ghanaian students.”

Read the post below

Trend analysis over the last three years shows a disturbing and consistent increase in hostel fees at the University of Ghana. Halls such as Jubilee, Mensah Sarbah, and Akuafo Hall Annex C have recorded a cumulative increase of over 220% in the last 4 years .

What justifies a… pic.twitter.com/aRxUh9FzjN

— Rashid Ibrahim (@_rash_ibrah) May 7, 2026