The Rent Control Department of Ghana has intervened in a dispute over accommodation fee hikes at the University of Ghana, directing hostel operators to halt all unassessed rent increases and refund excess charges to affected tenants. This decision was made in response to a petition submitted by the University of Ghana Students' Representative Council (UGSRC), which expressed concerns over proposed accommodation fee hikes by the University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL).
According to the Rent Control Department, UGEL and all private hostel operators nationwide have been ordered to revert to their previous rental rates and hold those rates in place until the formal rent assessment process has been completed and all legal conditions for implementing new charges have been satisfied. The directive also requires operators to calculate the difference between the rates tenants previously paid and the higher amounts they were charged, and refund that difference within a 14-day window running from 3 to 17 November 2026.
The University of Ghana had originally proposed a 26 per cent increase in accommodation fees, which student representatives rejected outright. Revised figures of 15 per cent for four-person rooms and 19 per cent for two-person rooms were subsequently tabled, but concerns over affordability continued to mount. A group calling itself the Concerned Students' Movement had announced plans for a demonstration, pressing for lower fees, refunds for students who had already paid the higher rates and greater openness in how accommodation charges are determined.
The Rent Control Department's directive not only targets UGEL but also extends to all private hostel owners and operators in the country whose properties fall within the coverage of Ghana's rent laws. The department stated clearly that hostel operators must not intimidate, threaten, harass or victimise any tenant who questions a rent increase, seeks a refund or reports a suspected violation.
To monitor compliance, officials will carry out inspections, review tenancy and payment records, verify refunds and investigate complaints. Operators found to have broken the law could face enforcement measures and the applicable legal penalties. The University of Ghana Students' Representative Council (UGSRC) and the Graduate Students' Association of Ghana had urged students to stay away from the planned protest, while still acknowledging the legitimacy of concerns about rising accommodation costs.
The directive from the Rent Control Department brings temporary relief to University of Ghana students who were facing potential rent hikes. By suspending unassessed rent increases and requiring refunds, the department aims to ensure fairness and transparency in the accommodation fee assessment process.
The University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL) and private hostel operators must now comply with the Rent Control Department's directive and await the outcome of the formal rent assessment process. Failure to comply may result in inspections, investigations, and potential legal consequences. The students can now look forward to a resolution of the accommodation fee dispute.
Key points
- The Rent Control Department has ordered hostel operators to suspend unassessed rent increases and refund students by November 17.
- University of Ghana students were facing potential rent hikes of up to 26 per cent, which was reduced to 15 per cent for four-person rooms and 19 per cent for two-person rooms.
- The directive applies to UGEL and all private hostel operators nationwide whose properties fall within the coverage of Ghana's rent laws.
