'Long overdue' - NUGS welcomes crackdown on hostel fees

Ghanaian students have received renewed hope as authorities move to address the long-standing problem of rising private hostel fees across the country.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has welcomed recent interventions by the Rent Control Department, describing them as long overdue.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, NUGS President Rashid Ibrahim, said the union’s petition on hostel pricing had triggered concrete action from both regulators and government officials.

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According to him, the Rent Control Department has already begun inspecting private hostels across various tertiary institutions to verify persistent complaints about arbitrary pricing and weak regulation.

“We are happy that the Rent Commissioner did not sit on the petition but moved to the ground to assess the situation,” he stated.

The development comes as the Ministry of Education is reportedly setting up a committee to investigate the nationwide increase in hostel fees.

Ibrahim noted that the cost of student accommodation has become a major financial burden for many students, in some cases exceeding tuition fees.

“Students are now paying several times more for accommodation than for school fees,” he said.

He further observed that although Ghana already has rent laws that empower authorities to regulate pricing, enforcement has been weak for decades.

“The laws are there, but they have not been enforced for decades,” he stressed, urging authorities to ensure strict compliance going forward.

The Rent Control Department has proposed the subjection of hostels to professional valuation as part of efforts to standardise pricing.

NUGS believes the move could introduce greater fairness and transparency into the sector.

Ibrahim added that aligning hostel fees with the actual standard of facilities would help reduce the exploitation of students.

Beyond regulation, he called on the government to pursue long-term solutions by expanding public-private partnerships aimed at increasing the supply of student accommodation.

“The only long-term solution is to build more accommodation,” he said.

NA/VPO