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The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has inaugurated a 1,664-bed hostel facility to enable the institution absorb more students.
Known as the UPSA Amon Kotei Hostel, the facility was constructed with internally generated funds and pre-financed by Access Bank Ghana.
The 10-storey building is fully equipped with a recreational area, a tech-controlled security system, an elevator, study rooms and junior common rooms.
It also comes with two automated teller machines, fire extinguishers, offices, television rooms, a laundry area, a car park and other amenities that will enhance user experience.
Additionally, each room has its own electricity meter for individual management purposes.
At the ceremony to inaugurate the facility yesterday, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, commended the institution for consistently and continuously expanding and improving its facilities in teaching, learning and accommodation to give students a good experience on campus.
He said the government was aware of the infrastructural deficit in the country’s educational sector, which had worsened as the free senior high school (SHS) policy continued to produce large numbers of high school graduates.
“It has become very challenging for qualified SHS graduates to be admitted to the various tertiary institutions due to limited infrastructure and resources,” he added.
Dr Adutwum noted that the government, to mitigate the problem, had allocated GH¢22.9 billion to the Education Ministry in the 2023 Budget.
“However, this needs to be improved, so the government is relying on institutions such as yours in the private sector for partnership, and I hope that many more private universities will emulate your example by adding to their infrastructure and not rely solely on the government,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UPSA, Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, said the hostel was in fulfilment of the university’s pledge to fully embrace the free SHS policy by increasing efforts to construct hostels and classrooms to accommodate students.
“The hostel and the other infrastructural development have all been funded from internally generated funds, further exemplifying the Ghana beyond aid agenda the President has espoused and pushed.
“Indeed, this hostel is a reality today because of the President’s personal intervention to enable us to secure the land and the necessary clearance from the appropriate ministry,” he added.
Prof. Amartey appealed to the government to support and augment efforts to construct a drainage system and streetlights outside the hostel to keep the students who would be in occupancy safe and preserved in the community.
He encouraged the students to utilise the facility to achieve their academic goals and also uphold the UPSA’s standards to create a supportive learning environment.
