The Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have shut down two private hostels serving students of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) over poor sanitation, substandard living conditions and regulatory breaches.
The affected facilities, Serwaa Heights and Adehye3 Hostel, were closed following complaints from students about unsanitary conditions, poor management and what they described as arbitrary rent increases. Officials from the Eastern Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, led by Regional Director Jones Haruna Nelson, together with Acting Rent Control Commissioner Frederick Opoku, carried out an unannounced inspection of private hostel facilities around the university after receiving the complaints.
Before beginning the inspection, the team met with the Dean of Students and later briefed the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the exercise. At Serwaa Heights, located about 300 metres from the university’s small gate, officials found poor sanitation and management deficiencies. The Ghana Tourism Authority also established that the hostel was operating without the required registration.
Speaking after the inspection, Mr. Haruna Nelson said the facility was not fit for occupation and was operating illegally.
“We came and realised that the place is not fit for purpose. We didn’t know there were hostels here because they are doing illegal business. The place is unkempt, the air coming in is bad, so we have served them a notice of closure,” he said.
Students at Serwaa Heights said they were paying GH¢9,000 annually for single rooms and GH¢5,000 each for shared rooms occupied by three students despite the poor living conditions.
The inspection team later visited Adehye3 Hostel, located behind the university’s main campus, where they found heaps of refuse at the entrance and other sanitation concerns. Students there also expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the facility and called for immediate intervention.
Following the inspections, the Ghana Tourism Authority issued closure notices to both hostels. Mr. Haruna Nelson said the action was necessary to safeguard students and ensure hostel operators comply with the standards required to operate legally.
Acting Rent Control Commissioner Frederick Opoku assured affected students that they would receive refunds for monies already paid. He said the Commission would work closely with the Ghana Tourism Authority to protect students from exploitation and ensure that private hostels meet acceptable health, safety and regulatory standards.
Mr. Opoku further warned hostel operators against charging excessive rents while providing poor accommodation. He added that the Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority would sustain the nationwide inspection exercise to identify and close unlicensed and unsanitary hostel facilities.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe