Ultra-modern hostel facility for Cape vars inaugurated

By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA
Cape Coast, Sept. 26, GNA - The Ghana University Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) has inaugurated its ultra-modern hostel facility at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to help solve the accommodation challenges of the university.

The three-wing hostel complex, located adjacent the Students' Representative Council Hostel, was constructed by Top International Engineering Company Limited (TIEC) within 24 months, at an estimated cost of GH¢32 m.

The amount for the project is made up of GH¢24 million as a loan from the Prudential Bank, while the Government would foot the rest of the cost under the direction of UCC-Ghana University Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) Management Board.

The facility has 401 rooms to accommodate 1,184 students and 66 spacious rooms with special washroom facilities for easy access, especially for physically challenged student, with kitchenettes in each room, ensuite bath and washrooms.

The complex also has study rooms, a library on each floor, a standby plant to provide power in case of power outage, five grocery shops, a unisex salon, a pharmacy shop and photocopy centres.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr John Yaw Opoku, the Chairman of GUSSS, said the project was initiated to diversify the Scheme's investment ideas, as well as to help reduce the accommodation challenges of the University.

He said the hostel had been designed to have a security post, fire safety equipment, a water storage facility, accessible ICT connectivity, a friendly ambience and a conducive environment.

The outgoing Vice Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Dominic Kuupole, urged other unions on campus to emulate the steps of the management GUSSS Committee to help reduce the accommodation challenges of the university.

He said they could not continue to rely on the Government to solve the accommodation problems.

He urged the UCC students to patronise the facility, adding that, there was much more protection living in the University's hostels.

Prof Kuupole tasked the GUSSS to put in place an established maintenance plan to ensure that the facility remained in good shape all the time.

GUSS is a pension scheme, instituted by the Government in 1961 to provide terminal benefits to retiring senior staff of public universities.

GNA