A Ghanaian education advocate, Dickson Assan, has raised concerns about the high cost and inequitable allocation of accommodation at the University of Ghana, following a personal experience involving a needy but academically brilliant student.
In a detailed account shared on social media, Mr Assan described how he supported a young man identified as Emmanuel, a Pharmacy student at the University of Ghana, whose admission journey was nearly derailed by the cost of hostel accommodation.
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According to Mr Assan, Emmanuel was initially offered accommodation at Diamond Jubilee Hostel, with an allocation letter indicating a fee slightly above GHS 6,000. However, upon arrival on campus, the actual cost of the hostel for the academic year turned out to be GHS 10,250.
He noted that even raising the initial amount required support from benevolent individuals, making the unexpected increase financially overwhelming for the student and his supporters.
Mr Assan further revealed that Emmanuel’s academic fees alone exceed GHS 10,000 annually, bringing his total basic cost of schooling — excluding feeding, books, transportation, and laboratory expenses — to over GHS 20,000 per year.
Describing the situation as unfair, he lamented that traditional halls of residence, which charge significantly lower fees of about GHS 1,250, are increasingly occupied through lobbying by influential individuals, leaving students from poor backgrounds with no option but to accept expensive private hostels.
“What pains me the most is that the facilities meant to support needy but brilliant students are no longer accessible to them,” he stated.
Mr Assan also highlighted the severity of the accommodation shortage, explaining that when efforts were made to vacate the hostel due to cost, others were immediately ready to take up the space — an indication of overwhelming demand.
He concluded that Ghana has failed to invest adequately in affordable accommodation in its public universities, warning that without deliberate intervention, students from disadvantaged backgrounds would continue to bear the brunt of the crisis.
“In the end, it is students like Emmanuel brilliant but needy who suffer the most,” he added.
