Students at the University of Ghana are preparing to take to the streets over a 26% increase in accommodation fees, with their concerns centred on rising costs, refunds and the lack of transparency surrounding the revised charges.
The Concerned Students’ Movement of the University of Ghana has scheduled a demonstration for Monday, November 2, to demand a review of the new fees affecting university halls and accommodation facilities managed by the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL).
The group is also calling for refunds for students who have already paid the increased charges and greater consultation with students before decisions affecting accommodation costs are made.
Speaking to Citi News, a member of the movement, Ishmael Oduro-Acheampong, said the group was engaging the Dean of Students’ Affairs and other university authorities in an attempt to resolve the matter before the planned protest.
He described the revised accommodation charges as excessive, pointing to what he said were sharp increases in the cost of some facilities over just two semesters.
“Just two semesters ago, the facility where students were paying about GH₵3,000 and GH₵4,000 now is being priced around GH₵8,000,” he said.
The movement argues that students should receive clear explanations about how the new charges were calculated and should have an opportunity to contribute to decisions that directly affect their living expenses.
Oduro-Acheampong also questioned whether the prices being charged were consistent with the quality of accommodation and services available to students.
He maintained that facilities attracting premium fees should provide standards that justify the cost, warning against placing a heavier financial burden on students without a corresponding improvement in services.
Beyond the accommodation fees, the group is demanding greater accountability from the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (SRC), particularly in how it responds to concerns affecting the student population.
Oduro-Acheampong said university authorities needed to explain the increases and demonstrate how the revised charges reflected the facilities and services provided to residents.
The planned November 2 demonstration is intended to increase pressure on the university to reconsider the fees, address refund demands and involve students more meaningfully in decisions about accommodation costs.
The outcome of the ongoing engagements between the movement and university authorities could determine whether the protest proceeds as planned.
