Ghana Education Minister proposes cap on university hostel fee increases

Ghanaian Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has proposed a legal cap on annual accommodation fee increases at public universities to protect students from rising costs. Following protests regarding hostel fees outpacing tuition, Iddrisu suggested that yearly increases should be linked to inflation and kept within a range of 5 to 10 per cent.

To implement this, the Minister called for the formation of a committee to study accommodation costs. This committee would be tasked with advising Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on appropriate annual percentage increases under the Fees and Charges Act. Iddrisu emphasized that no rent increases should take effect until the committee has reviewed economic conditions and provided recommendations to the Finance Ministry to ensure predictability and prevent exorbitant pricing.