TEMA, Ghana, 12th November: The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has cautioned the Rent Control Department against adopting what he describes as a populist approach towards university hostel charges, warning that such actions could negatively affect the quality of teaching and learning in tertiary institutions.
He argues that universities across the country face significant financial constraints in maintaining existing infrastructure and providing additional accommodation facilities for students, making revenue from hostel charges essential to sustaining their operations.
His remarks come after the Rent Control Department petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to initiate legal action against the University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL) over alleged violations of rent laws in its recent accommodation fee adjustments.
Acting Rent Control Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, said the petition was submitted on Tuesday, November 10, following UGEL’s alleged failure to comply with the Commission’s directive to suspend unassessed increases in hostel accommodation fees.
Mr Opoku accused UGEL management of disregarding the authority of the Commission, pointing to fresh communication sent to the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) concerning accommodation charges ahead of students’ resumption on November 16.
The latest development follows a November 2 directive by the Rent Control Department ordering UGEL and private hostel operators to suspend all unassessed accommodation fee increases, revert to previous rates and refund excess payments collected from students.
The Commission gave the affected operators until November 17, 2026, to comply with the directive, warning that failure to do so could result in legal action.
It also cautioned hostel operators against intimidating, threatening or victimising students who demand refunds or challenge the increased accommodation charges.
The directive was issued against the backdrop of protests by the Concerned Students of the University of Ghana over higher accommodation fees introduced for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The students staged a demonstration to express their dissatisfaction with the revised charges, demanding an immediate review of the fees and greater accountability from UGEL management.
The Rent Control Department has maintained that all accommodation providers are required to operate within the provisions of the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), which stipulates procedures that must be followed before rental charges can be adjusted.
The petition to the Attorney-General signals a possible escalation of the dispute, as the Commission seeks to enforce compliance with the law and protect students from what it considers unlawful accommodation fee increases.
Speaking on Ahotor Fm’s Adekyee Mu Nsem on the controversy surrounding accommodation fees in universities, Mr Koomson said tertiary education is expensive globally, with academic and accommodation costs constituting significant components of the financial burden.
He noted that although successive governments in Ghana have made efforts to subsidise academic fees, accommodation costs on university campuses have largely remained outside such support, compelling universities to explore alternative sources of funding to provide and maintain hostel facilities.
According to him, universities are struggling to maintain even their existing infrastructure, let alone undertake new hostel construction projects, due to limited financial resources.
He said internally generated funds have also been inadequate to support major accommodation infrastructure projects, leaving universities with difficult financial decisions to ensure the continued provision of essential services.
Mr Koomson therefore described as troubling reports of the Rent Control Department threatening sanctions against educational institutions over rent charges without first engaging university authorities to understand their financial constraints.
He urged the department to engage the management of the various universities to appreciate the challenges confronting them and work towards determining reasonable accommodation charges rather than resorting to threats of sanctions.
The GFL Secretary General said his concerns are informed partly by his personal experience as a parent and grandparent with children and grandchildren pursuing university education.
He specifically referenced the University of Ghana, noting that the institution faces peculiar accommodation challenges, including outstanding bank loans contracted for hostel construction and legal disputes surrounding the facilities.
Mr Koomson warned that failure to carefully consider the financial realities confronting universities could worsen their operational difficulties and undermine efforts to provide quality tertiary education.
He maintained that while students must be protected against unreasonable accommodation charges, regulatory interventions should also take into account the financial sustainability of educational institutions.
He called for constructive engagement between the Rent Control Department and university administrations to establish a fair and sustainable approach to hostel charges that protects students without compromising the ability of universities to maintain and expand their accommodation facilities.