The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) National Secretariat has expressed strong support for the Rent Control Department’s ongoing intervention aimed at curbing what it describes as exploitative increases in hostel and accommodation prices within tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued on May 5, 2026, GRASAG said the rising cost of accommodation has become one of the most pressing challenges facing students across the country, particularly graduate students who are already burdened with tuition fees, research costs, transport expenses, and general living costs.
According to the association, hostel fees have become “the greatest headache” for many students, with some forced to spend a disproportionate share of their limited resources on accommodation that does not always match the prices charged.
GRASAG also commended the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for raising concerns about student accommodation challenges, describing it as a bold step in highlighting long-standing exploitation within the system.
The association further welcomed the Rent Control Department’s recent clampdown on unlawful hostel fee hikes, describing it as a necessary intervention to protect students from unfair pricing practices. It assured the department of its full cooperation in efforts to regulate the sector.
The call comes amid ongoing nationwide assessments by the Rent Control Department, which has begun inspecting hostel facilities following reports of unjustified price increases around some university communities, including the University of Ghana and the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Acting Rent Commissioner Fredrick Opoku has stated that the exercise is being carried out through engagement and structured assessment rather than forceful enforcement.
He explained that the aim is not to discourage private investment in student housing but to ensure fairness and compliance with regulations.
“We are trying to do it systematically and through true engagement,” he said, adding that students, parents, landlords and property owners will all benefit from a more regulated system.
GRASAG, in its statement, has therefore called on the Ministry of Education to urgently convene a stakeholder meeting involving the Rent Control Department, university authorities, hostel operators, student leaders and regulatory bodies to find lasting solutions to the accommodation crisis.
The association stressed that affordable and decent accommodation is essential for academic success and urged swift government action to address the growing concern.
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