Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department, Fredrick Opoku, has criticised the rising cost of hostel accommodation around the University of Ghana, describing some of the charges as exploitative and unlawful.
According to current rates, students in some private hostels affiliated with the university are reportedly paying as much as GHS10,859 for a four-in-a-room facility per academic year.
A two-in-a-room facility without air conditioning costs GHS17,971 per person, while rooms with air conditioning go for GHS19,357. A single room reportedly costs GHS38,070.
Speaking on Citi News, Mr. Opoku singled out Viking Hostel over what he called excessive pricing.
“One sad aspect is that we learnt that the Viking Hostel is a private arrangement with the alumni. It is not a University of Ghana project. They were charging one room with AC GHS10,000. How? This is so shameful,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the Rent Control Department will soon engage hostel owners across Greater Accra to address the pricing concerns and review what he described as illegal charges
