The Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have closed down two private hostels in Koforidua for operating under poor sanitary conditions and providing substandard accommodation to students.
The affected facilities, Serwaa Heights and Adehye3 Hostel, were shut down following complaints from students of Koforidua Technical University (KTU), who appealed to the authorities to take action against unsanitary hostels operating around the university.
A joint inspection team from the Eastern Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, led by Regional Director Jones Haruna Nelson, and the Acting Rent Control Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, carried out an unannounced inspection of hostel facilities after receiving reports from students.
The officials first met with the Dean of Students before briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the exercise.
The team’s first stop was Serwaa Heights, situated about 300 metres from the university’s small gate. Inspectors found the hostel to be in poor sanitary condition and discovered that it was operating without registration from the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Mr. Nelson said the facility was unfit for occupation.
“We came and realised that the place is not fit for purpose. We didn’t know there were hostels here because they are doing illegal business. The place is unkempt, the air coming in is bad, so we have served them a notice of closure,” he said.
The inspection team later visited Adehye3 Hostel, located behind the university’s main campus, where they found heaps of refuse piled at the entrance of the facility.
Following the inspection, the Ghana Tourism Authority issued closure notices to both hostels, citing poor sanitation and failure to meet the required operational standards.
Mr. Nelson said the decision was taken to protect students and ensure that hostel operators comply with the standards required for student accommodation.
Acting Rent Control Commissioner Frederick Opoku assured students affected by the closures that they would receive refunds for monies already paid to the hostel operators.
He said the Commission would continue to collaborate with the Ghana Tourism Authority to safeguard the welfare of students renting private accommodation.
Mr. Opoku added that the nationwide exercise would continue to identify and close down unlicensed and unsanitary hostels taking advantage of students.
He stressed that the Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority remain committed to ensuring that private hostel operators across the country provide safe, hygienic and legally compliant accommodation for students.
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