Students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have staged a demonstration against skyrocketing private hostel fees, revealing that accommodation costs have overtaken academic tuition and are forcing many out of higher education.

The protest unfolded during the National Youth Conference held at the KNUST campus, organized by the National Youth Authority (NYA).

Members of the University Hall (Katanga) morale group, shortly after delivering a cultural performance at the conference, displayed placards to draw the attention of state officials and media personnel to their financial distress.

Some of the placards read: “Reduce hostel fees now!”, “We came to learn, not to sleep", “Hostel fees are now more expensive than our school fees, why?”

Speaking on behalf of the students, the morale group leader, identified as Obrane, a final-year Agricultural Engineering student , decried the immense financial burden placed on parents and guardians. He expressed frustration that private hostel operators continue to disregard directives from the Rent Control Department.

“Everybody wants their children to enroll in university, but if hostel prices become more expensive than university tuition fees, then it is deeply unfortunate,” Obrane lamented.

He criticized private developers for acting as though they are immune to state regulations. “Hostel owners want to demonstrate that their power supersedes the government. We came to school to learn, not just to sleep,” he added, appealing to authorities to rein in arbitrary price hikes.

Responding directly to the students' grievances at the conference, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, gave a firm assurance that the government would step in to enforce rent regulations and protect students from exploitation.

“I want to assure them that as Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, I will take up this issue with the Minister for Education and the appropriate authorities responsible for controlling rent in this country. We are a country of laws, and we must allow our laws to work. No single individual is bigger or greater than the laws of this country". The minister revealed.

Beyond enforcing regulatory compliance, the Minister outlined long-term policy measures designed to permanently resolve the tertiary housing deficit.

He revealed that the Ministry of Education is actively negotiating with private developers to construct affordable, purpose-built on-campus housing to increase room availability and drive down market prices.

“We will have the necessary conversations with hostel owners and ensure that prices are reasonable for the dear students of this country,” Hon. Opare Addo emphasized.

Reaffirming the administration's broader commitment to tertiary education, the Minister cited the government's flagship housing initiative: “As part of our manifesto promise, we promised the ‘Bed for All’ agenda.

"We will aggressively pursue it to ensure there are more than enough affordable beds for students on campuses nationwide", the minister concluded.