Justice Scripts

On a quiet evening at the University of Ghana, Legon, first-year student Ama (not her real name) sat beneath a flickering streetlamp, scrolling anxiously through hostel listings on her phone. She had expected to budget for textbooks and tuition, not to be shocked by the soaring cost of campus accommodation. The official notice from Ghana Hostels Limited showed that a four-person room in Pent Hall would cost GHS 6,663, leaving her and many other students scrambling to make ends meet.

Ama’s predicament is far from unusual. Across Ghana’s major universities, students face a deepening accommodation crisis: insufficient on campus spaces, rising rents, and substandard private hostels are forcing many to make difficult choices.

The Reality Behind Rising Costs

Recent figures show that rates for Pent Hall have surged dramatically over the past few years. For example, a single air-conditioned room is now listed at GHS 40,329, up from GHS 24,362 two years ago. Even the lowest-cost option a shared four-person room is now GHS 7,492, up from GHS 4,928 just last year. (pulse.com.gh)

Such increases have drawn criticism from lawmakers and the public. Dr. Clement Apaak, a Member of Parliament, has questioned how families with limited incomes can afford these fees and what happens to students from less privileged backgrounds.

Off-campus housing offers little relief. At KNUST, private hostels can cost anywhere from GHS 2,000 to over GHS 5,000 per year. AFD reports indicate that off-campus accommodation can sometimes be up to 14 times more expensive than the cheapest on-campus options, leaving students with few affordable alternatives.

Life Behind Closed Doors

Simulated interviews reveal the daily struggles students endure:

• Nana, a second-year KNUST student, shares a tiny Bomso apartment with three roommates, squeezed into a room barely larger than a classroom desk. Recent rent hikes have made the situation even more stressful.

• Yaw, a final-year student at Legon, was unable to secure campus housing due to cost and now commutes two hours daily, spending much of his stipend on transport.

• Adjoa, a first-year student, missed out on the campus ballot system and ended up in a distant hostel with unreliable electricity and water, making studying at night a challenge.

These personal accounts echo research showing that some students spend more on rent than on tuition, a trend that affects their academic focus and overall well-being.

Impact on Academic Performance and Well-Being

Housing insecurity has real consequences. Commuting students often arrive at class exhausted, while those in overcrowded or poorly serviced hostels struggle to find quiet study spaces. The stress of paying high rents, sharing cramped quarters, or dealing with erratic utilities contributes to anxiety, sleep deprivation, and lower academic performance. For many, these challenges are compounded by the pressure of adjusting to university life away from home.

Proposed Solutions

Addressing the student housing crisis requires coordinated action:

1. Expand On-Campus Housing

Government and universities should invest in building more affordable, quality hostels, potentially through public-private partnerships.

2. Implement Fair Rent Policies

Transparent, regulated pricing for both campus and private hostels can protect students from sudden, unaffordable fee increases.

3. Improve Housing Information Access

Universities could maintain online platforms listing verified hostels, landlords, and current rents to prevent exploitation by middlemen.

4. Support Off-Campus Students

Subsidized transport and dedicated study spaces on campus could help those who cannot afford on-campus accommodation.

Conclusion

Ama’s quiet vigil under a streetlamp is emblematic of a larger problem affecting students nationwide. When housing costs rival tuition or exceed monthly stipends, the academic journey becomes a battle against stress and exhaustion. Ghana’s universities, policymakers, and private investors must act decisively to ensure students have access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing because a quality education begins with a place to call home.