SSNIT must ‘bow in shame’ over exorbitant Pentagon hostel charges at UG— Acting Rent Commissioner

The Acting Rent Commissioner, Fredrick Opoku, has strongly criticised the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) over accommodation charges at Ghana Hostels Limited, popularly known as Pentagon Hostel, describing the fees as exploitative, excessive, and unfair to students and parents.

Speaking during an interview on Hit FM, Mr. Opoku expressed concern over the increasing cost of student accommodation at the hostel facility, which is affiliated with SSNIT. He argued that it was troubling for an institution entrusted with managing the pensions of Ghanaian workers to charge what he considers unaffordable rates for student housing.

According to him, the current pricing structure is placing significant financial pressure on parents and guardians who are already struggling with the rising cost of living, tuition fees, and other educational expenses.

Mr. Opoku specifically questioned the justification for the sharp price differences between the older and newer blocks of the Pentagon Hostel facility. He revealed that rooms in the older block, which are typically shared by four students, reportedly cost between GH¢6,000 and GH¢6,400 per semester, while accommodation in the newer block attracts substantially higher charges.

He further expressed concern over reports that some single rooms equipped with air conditioners are priced between GH¢20,000 and GH¢30,000 per semester, a situation he described as deeply worrying.

“What is the meaning of this? Do they want students to go into prostitution just to pay for accommodation?” he questioned.

The Acting Rent Commissioner warned that the continuous increase in hostel fees around tertiary institutions could have severe social and economic consequences for students and their families. He described the situation as alarming and called for greater attention to the growing affordability crisis in student housing across the country.

His comments come amid increasing public debate over accommodation costs in Ghana’s university communities, where demand for limited hostel space has contributed to sharp rent increases in both private and institutional facilities.

Observers say the issue has become a major concern for many students, particularly those studying in urban centres where housing costs continue to rise rapidly.