George Opare-Addo to petition Education Ministry over rising KNUST hostel fees

Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, says he will petition the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities over the rising cost of student accommodation, particularly at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

His comments come after some KNUST students demonstrated at the university’s Great Hall to protest increasing hostel and residential fees.

The students, holding placards, highlighted the financial difficulties they face as accommodation costs continue to rise.

Speaking at the launch of the National Youth Conference in Kumasi on Tuesday, August 11, Mr Opare-Addo said the government would engage the relevant authorities and private hostel operators to find ways of making accommodation more affordable for students.

“We will petition the Minister of Education and the appropriate authorities that are responsible for controlling rent in this country. We are a country of laws. We must allow our laws to work. No single individual is bigger or greater than the laws of this country,” he said.

He added that the government would engage hostel owners to ensure that accommodation charges were kept within reasonable limits.

“And so, we will make sure that the right things are done. We will have the necessary conversations with owners of hostels, and we will make sure that prices are reasonable for students,” Mr Opare-Addo said.

The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry of Education was in discussions with private investors to construct additional affordable accommodation facilities on university campuses.

“I also know that the Ministry of Education is in talks with some private members to build more affordable hotels on campus; we will pursue that,” he added.