UG urges students to suspend protest over 26% accommodation fee hike

The University of Ghana has appealed to organisers of a planned demonstration over a 26% increase in accommodation fees to suspend the protest while Management engages them to address their concerns.

The Concerned Students’ Movement of the University of Ghana has scheduled the demonstration for Monday, November 2, 2026, to demand a reduction in the revised accommodation charges, refunds for students who have already paid the increased fees, and greater transparency in decisions affecting accommodation costs.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Rosina Kyerematen, said Management had engaged the group and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing students’ concerns.

According to the university, the discussions are intended to address students’ immediate, medium-term and long-term needs, including access to accommodation.

“The Dean of Student Affairs has subsequently engaged the group on their concerns and assured them of Management’s commitment to addressing the immediate, middle-term, and long-term needs of students; including accommodation,” the statement said.

Management has therefore advised the protest organisers to suspend the planned demonstration as consultations with university authorities and other stakeholders continue.

The planned protest follows a 26% increase in accommodation fees charged at university halls and facilities managed by the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL).

The Concerned Students’ Movement is calling for a reduction in the revised fees and refunds for students who have already paid the increased charges. The group is also seeking greater transparency in decisions relating to accommodation costs.

The demands have placed accommodation affordability and student welfare at the centre of discussions between the organisers and university authorities.

The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs has urged students and student groups to channel their grievances through established university procedures, in accordance with the regulations governing junior members of the institution.

The university says it is also working with the Student Financial Aid Office and the Careers and Counselling Directorate to provide welfare support to students.

These efforts, Management indicated, form part of measures to address student concerns and maintain a peaceful learning environment while discussions continue.

With the planned November 2 demonstration approaching, attention will be on whether further engagement between the university and the student group leads to an agreement on the revised accommodation fees and the organisers’ demands.