The University of Ghana has been counselled by Political Activist, Abdul Salam to adopt sustainable approaches to manage the rampant residential crisis on the University’s campus.
Over the past years, there has been a problem with students being unable to secure accommodation on campus. When the online residential portal through which rooms are selected is opened, most of the rooms are already taken, which in turn causes frustration among the students.
In addition to that, the university plans to only allow first-year students to stay in the traditional halls, meaning that continuing students in their second year will have to compete with each other for hostels and University of Ghana Enterprise (UGEL) halls on campus, with some of these facilities already being limited in number. These are features of the University’s implementation of an ‘in-out-out’ policy with reference to student residence.
Meanwhile, the University of Ghana has issued a stern warning to students who engage in the sale of beds on campus, stating that they will face disciplinary action from the school authorities. The university also urged students to refrain from such activities and instead focus on their studies.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive today on the issue at hand, Abdul Salam Mohammad described the University of Ghana’s residential application system as a delicate matter. He attributed the situation to inadequate beds, making it difficult for students to secure accommodation.
“This is a very delicate matter. We have dealt with this since; the matter persisted long before I was a student….the issue with accommodation in campus is very simple. The university simply does not have enough bed spaces….if you look at the challenges people face, basically it runs through. There are no beds, so students are stranded all over the place. “
Abdul Salam called on the University of Ghana’s school management to abandon its current in-out-out-out policy for managing student residences, arguing that it is not the best solution to the university’s residential problem.
“The in-out-out system is not the best solution. What it does is that it just postponed the problem.”
He recommended that the university’s management to incorporate a more sustainable approach to solving the inadequate accommodation issue.
“We need a more sustainable and more proactive solution to this problem.”
With student numbers increasing each year, Abdul Salam believes that the university must look for long-term solutions that will ensure students have access to safe and affordable accommodation.
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Story by: Henrietta Owusua | univers.ug.edu.gh