University of Ghana has officially handed over five acres of land to the Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UG) to kickstart a joint student-led hostel project.
The symbolic ceremony, held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, gathered university management, student leaders, and other stakeholders who all expressed one clear goal: to finally ease the school’s long-standing accommodation crisis.
According to the Acting Director of the Physical Development and Municipal Services Directorate (PDMSD), Peter Abalansah, two acres have been allocated to the SRC (for undergraduate students) and three acres to GRASAG-UG (for graduate students). He clarified, however, that the initiative is not a competition but a partnership, with both student bodies coming together under one vision.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, praised the students for taking the bold step and assured them of management’s full backing. She expressed optimism that the first phase of the hostel would be completed in just 18 to 24 months.
“You have the full support of management to continue with this project. I believe that since you have come together, things are going to be very, very quickly expedited,” she said.
Prof. Amfo also used the occasion to highlight other ongoing housing efforts such as the Diamond Jubilee Hostel, the GUSSS Student Hostel Project, the PhD Hostel, and the UGEL–Gold Key partnership, which altogether could deliver nearly 20,000 additional bed spaces—with about 5,000 expected soon.
For Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs), Professor Gordon Awandare, the project marks a new chapter in student-management collaboration. He revealed that the first phase alone will provide at least 1,000 beds.
“This is a hostel by the students, for the students, and managed by the students. It’s a powerful message that students are now willing to work with management to solve problems. This is a new era where students are showing greater commitment to supporting the university,” he told Univers News.
UGSRC Vice President, Jeffery Adu Yeboah, speaking for undergraduates, called on students to remain united and resourceful to see the project succeed. He also urged the university to review its “in-out-out” accommodation policy, which allows only first-year students to stay on campus.
“This policy can be re-looked at again. Management and the SRC can go back to the drawing board after three years of implementation to design a more realistic and beneficial policy for the over 70,000 students,” he said.
GRASAG-UG President, Bright Amansiah Twerefour, outlined the long-term vision: about 10,000 bed spaces within the next 15 years. More importantly, he assured students that affordability remains central to the project.
“This initiative is not only providing bed spaces but also ensuring that the spaces are very affordable. In the long run, this will affect existing hostels on campus that keep increasing prices every year due to monopoly,” he explained.
The ceremony was attended by the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Rosina Kyeremanteng, hall tutors, UGSRC President Maradona Agyei Yeboah, newly elected student leaders, and other dignitaries who all pledged their support to see the dream hostel project come to life.
SOURCE: RADIO UNIVERS
