Rent Control Commission, GTA close two Koforidua hostels over poor sanitation

The Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have ordered the closure of Serwaa Heights and Adehye3 hostels in Koforidua after inspections revealed poor sanitation and substandard living conditions.

The enforcement action follows complaints from students of Koforidua Technical University (KTU), who petitioned the authorities to clamp down on private hostels operating under unsanitary conditions around the university.

A joint inspection team led by the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Jones Haruna Nelson, and the Acting Rent Control Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, carried out a surprise inspection of several hostel facilities after receiving reports from students.

The team first met with the university's Dean of Students before briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the exercise.

During the inspection, officials visited Serwaa Heights, situated about 300 metres from the university's small gate, where they observed poor sanitation and inadequate management practices. The team also discovered that the facility was operating without registration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.

Addressing journalists, Mr Nelson said the hostel failed to meet the required standards.

"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 residing at Serwaa Heights told Channel One TV they pay GH¢9,000 annually for single rooms and GH¢5,000 each for shared accommodation occupied by three students, despite the poor conditions.

The inspection team later visited Adehye3 Hostel, located behind the university's main campus, where they found heaps of refuse piled at the entrance. Students there also expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions and called for the facility to be shut down.

Following the inspection, the Ghana Tourism Authority issued closure notices to both hostels, citing health and safety concerns.

Mr Nelson said the decision was necessary to protect 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 be refunded the monies they had paid. He said the Commission would work closely with the Ghana Tourism Authority to safeguard the welfare of students renting private accommodation.

He added that the two institutions would continue nationwide inspections to ensure hostel facilities meet acceptable standards and warned that operators exploiting students through poor accommodation would face similar enforcement action.

Mr Opoku also disclosed that the Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority are collaborating to identify and shut down all unlicensed and unsanitary hostels across the country.