UG students demand removal of UGEL management over 15% hostel fee increase

Students of the University of Ghana have called for the dismissal of the management of the University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL) following a 15% increase in hostel accommodation fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The protesting students argue that the adjustment places an additional financial burden on them without corresponding improvements in accommodation facilities or adequate consultations before the new charges were introduced.

Speaking to Citi News during a demonstration on Monday, November 9, the students accused UGEL management of ignoring their financial challenges and failing to put their welfare at the centre of its decisions.

One of the demonstrators insisted that the current leadership had lost the confidence of students and should be replaced.

“The UGEL must go, simple. They must go because they are not doing anything to help us. You can’t just wake up one day and increase the hostel, the accommodation fees without any proper improvements, without proper consultation,” the student said.

The protest, organised by the Concerned Students of the University of Ghana, went ahead despite appeals by the university's Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UG) for students to stay away.

The demonstration was initially scheduled for November 2 but was moved to November 9 after the police requested additional time to prepare personnel to provide security and facilitate the exercise.

Beyond demanding a review of the increased accommodation charges, the students want greater transparency in the process used to determine hostel fees.

UGEL's proposed 26% increase was reportedly reduced to 15% for standard rooms occupied by four students following discussions with student representatives.

In a statement issued on November 8, university management announced that it was reopening engagements with the SRC, GRASAG-UG and the UGEL Board in an effort to reach an agreement on accommodation charges for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The demonstration comes amid wider concerns about rising accommodation costs at the university. The Rent Control Department had earlier directed UGEL and private hostel operators to suspend rent increases that had not been assessed and refund excess payments by November 17, 2026.