KNUST students protest high hostel fees, demand urgent government intervention

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) students have voiced their discontent over exorbitant private hostel fees, warning that the escalating accommodation costs are causing immense financial strain on students and their families, potentially impacting their education. The University Hall, or Katanga, morale group, highlighted their concerns after performing at the 2026 National Youth Conference organized by the National Youth Authority at KNUST.

The students displayed placards with messages such as "Reduce hostel fees now!", "We came to learn, not to sleep, #Reduce hostel prices," and "Hostel fees are now more expensive than our school fees, why? #KNUST students deserve better."

Obrane, a final-year Agricultural Engineering student and morale group leader, expressed the students' frustration, stating that the high cost of private accommodation places a significant financial burden on students and their parents. He questioned why hostel fees had become more expensive than university school fees, emphasizing that the situation is unfortunate.

Obrane also criticized private hostel owners for allegedly ignoring regulatory guidance, despite interventions from the Rent Control Department. He appealed to the media to shed light on the difficulties students are facing and emphasized that private hostel owners should comply with the laws governing accommodation and rent in the country.

In response to the students' concerns, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, pledged government intervention to tackle the rising accommodation costs. Addo assured the students that he would address the issue with the Minister for Education and the appropriate authorities responsible for controlling rent in the country.

He stressed the importance of adhering to the laws governing accommodation and rent, emphasizing that no individual is above the laws of the country. Addo also revealed that the Ministry of Education was negotiating with private developers to construct affordable on-campus accommodation for students as part of efforts to alleviate the accommodation challenges faced by tertiary institutions.

This initiative is part of the government's broader policy agenda to expand student accommodation across tertiary institutions and ensure affordable housing options for students. Addo reiterated the government's commitment to its "Bed for All" policy, which aims to increase the availability of accommodation for students across tertiary institutions, fulfilling a manifesto promise and expanding the number of beds on campuses.