The Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has caved in to pressure and protests from students from the authorities to drastically reduce the cut-throat hostel rentals in the country’s biggest technology university.
Angry students of the school had today mounted a protest on the campus over what they described as extreme hikes in private hostel fees.
Rents for hostels range between GHC 2,000 and GHS5,000 for one academic year.
This prompted protests earlier on Friday, July 16, 2021, from students, who threatened to resist any further exploitation of students by private hostels.
Some of them took to social media to complain over the issue using the hashtag, #FixKnustHostelPrices.
Consequently, the school’s management was forced to agree with the students. In a frantic statement issued shortly after the student demonstration, the school issued a statement agreeing with the students that the recent hikes in hostel fees were excessive.
“Our investigation shows that indeed some private hostels, off-campus, have increased their rentals between 20% and 94%,” said KNUST Management.
“…the Dean of Students has identified those specific hostels and have started engaging them on the possible reduction of same,” the statement read.
According to the management of KNUST, hostels under the Private Hostels Association (PHA) “have increased their rentals not exceeding 12% as agreed with the University,” adding that the hostels the students are protesting are not under the PHA and thus not recognised by the school.
The management claims to curb hostel profiteering by private sharks, KNUST is discussing with three private investors for the construction of hostels beginning next academic year.
“Management wishes to assure the general student body and the public that every effort is being made to provide decent and secure accommodation for students on campus.”