Mahama to accelerate the building of hostels for tertiary institutions

Certainly! Accommodation challenges for tertiary students in Ghana have been a pressing issue. The rental values of student housing have become a significant concern for tertiary institutions in Ghana. Private developers heavily invest in hostels due to the government’s inability to meet accommodation demand in public universities.

On-campus accommodation is often on a “first come, first served” basis and tends to fill up quickly.

Government should, therefore prioritise providing more on-campus accommodation, as students perceive it to be cheaper than off-campus options.

Addressing accommodation challenges requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders to ensure affordable and accessible housing for Ghanaian tertiary students, and accelerating the building of hostels for tertiary institutions in collaboration with private investors is a commendable initiative that can address the accommodation challenges faced by students in Ghana. Here are some potential benefits of this collaboration:

Building more hostels will provide students with affordable and convenient accommodation options, thereby increasing access to tertiary education for students from diverse backgrounds.

Adequate and safe accommodation can enhance the overall student experience, leading to better academic performance, retention rates, and overall well-being.

Collaborating with private investors to build hostels can stimulate economic growth by creating job opportunities, attracting investments, and boosting local businesses that cater to the needs of students.

The construction of hostels will contribute to the development of infrastructure in the education sector, improving the overall quality of tertiary institutions and enhancing their competitiveness.

Consequently, the collaboration between government and private investors to accelerate the building of hostels for tertiary institutions can have far-reaching benefits for students, educational institutions, the economy, and the society at large. It is a proactive step towards addressing the accommodation needs of students and enhancing the overall quality of higher education.

And these make the announcement of the National Democratic Congress' 2024 presidential candidate, H.E. John Mahama to accelerate the building of hostels for tertiary institutions in collaboration with private investors if elected president in this year's polls, a good call.

Anthony Obeng Afrane