The Concerned Students’ Movement of the University of Ghana has threatened to stage a protest on Monday, November 2, over a 26% increase in accommodation fees at university halls and facilities managed by the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL).
The group is demanding a reduction in the revised charges, refunds for students who have already paid and greater transparency in decisions affecting accommodation costs.
A member of the movement, Ishmael Oduro-Acheampong, said the group was engaging the Dean of Students’ Affairs and other university authorities to resolve the dispute before the planned demonstration.
He described the increases as excessive, citing cases in which accommodation charges had reportedly risen sharply within two semesters.
“Just two semesters ago, the facility where students were paying about GH₵3,000 and GH₵4,000 now is being priced around GH₵8,000,” he said.
Mr Oduro-Acheampong questioned how the revised fees were determined, insisting that students should be consulted and given clear explanations before significant increases are introduced.
He argued that accommodation charges must reflect the quality of facilities and services provided, warning against imposing premium rates for accommodation that does not meet comparable standards.
The movement is also demanding greater accountability from the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (SRC) in its handling of issues affecting students, particularly accommodation affordability and welfare.
It wants university authorities to justify the new rates and demonstrate how they correspond with the services available to residents.
With the planned protest approaching, the movement’s ongoing engagement with university authorities could determine whether the dispute is resolved before Monday.
The group maintains that reducing the fees, refunding affected students and ensuring transparency in future pricing decisions are necessary to address its concerns.
