President Mahama announces 10,000-bed student hostel for University of Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans for the construction of a 10,000-bed student hostel at the University of Ghana, aimed at bolstering the nation’s tertiary education infrastructure.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the opening of the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference, the President emphasized the project’s significance in addressing the long-standing accommodation challenges and safety risks faced by students.
The President revealed that the project is a result of a bilateral agreement signed during a recent official visit to Singapore. According to the President, the hostel will utilize prefabricated building technology, where components are manufactured in a factory and assembled on-site.
“This is going to be a prefabricated building. It means the building will be manufactured somewhere and then assembled on campus,” President Mahama explained.
He further disclosed that preparations are already in advanced stages, with the necessary machinery for the manufacturing factory currently being shipped from Singapore to Accra. President Mahama framed the announcement as a response to the growing vulnerability of students who are forced to live off-campus.
He referenced a recent social media post by Professor Kweku Azar, which highlighted the stark contrast between the ease of campus housing in previous decades and the “ordeal” students face today.
He emphasized that the housing deficit has evolved into a life-threatening safety issue. He cited tragic incidents where students commuting from distant private residences were victims of road accidents or armed robberies.
“It is preferable that we have as many of our students living on campus, or as close to campus as possible,” the President stated, noting that the “good news” had already been shared with the University’s Vice-Chancellor.
The hostel project aligns with the President’s “Reset Agenda” and the broader vision for 2026, which he previously designated as a year of “acceleration and expansion”. In his 2026 New Year message, Mahama pledged to “continue digitalising our schools” and ensure world-class education for every child. This new infrastructure project serves as a physical manifestation of that commitment to the tertiary sector.
Accra-Kumasi Expressway Update
In addition to the educational sector, the President addressed infrastructure concerns regarding the Accra–Kumasi highway.
”Accra is the biggest city… Kumasi is the next biggest city… and the traffic between these two cities is a shame,” Mahama remarked.
He assured the nation that he intends to cut sod for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway early this year as part of his “Big Push” infrastructure drive.
The 77th Annual New Year School and Conference, themed “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development,” continues to host policymakers and academics as they discuss the future of the nation’s development.
