Editorial
Increasing cost of hostel facilities, a major headache for parents
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the authorities and the general public to the increasing cost of hostel accommodation, particularly for students in tertiary institutions.
The high cost of hostels has become a serious challenge for many students and their parents.
In some areas, hostel fees have increased significantly, making it difficult for students from low- and middle-income families to secure decent accommodation.
Apart from the hostel fees, students also have to pay for transportation, food, learning materials and other academic needs.
The rising cost of accommodation therefore puts additional financial pressure on families and, in some cases, forces students to live in overcrowded or poorly maintained facilities.
I believe hostel owners and relevant authorities must work together to ensure that accommodation remains affordable while maintaining acceptable standards.
Tertiary institutions should also consider expanding student accommodation and encouraging affordable private hostel projects.
The government and local authorities could further support the development of low-cost student accommodation through appropriate policies and incentives.
I therefore appeal to the Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to treat the issue as a matter of urgency.
Affordable and decent accommodation is essential to creating a conducive environment for students to study and succeed.
This has in a way also empowered the private people in the accommodation sector to take undue advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant rates for their services.
Kwame Ampiaw,
Accra
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Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the poor state of the railway crossing area of the Neoplan Station, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, which is increasingly disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.
The damaged section of the road has become a major inconvenience to motorists, as vehicles are forced to slow down considerably when approaching the crossing to avoid damaging their tyres, wheels and suspension systems.
This situation causes unnecessary delays, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes are high.
The crossing is an important route for commuters and commercial drivers who use the Circle area to connect to other parts of the capital.
The deteriorating road surface therefore affects not only individual motorists but also the general movement of vehicles through this busy transport hub.
Beyond the inconvenience, the situation could increase the risk of minor accidents as drivers brake suddenly or attempt to manoeuvre around damaged portions of the road.
I respectfully appeal to the Department of Urban Roads, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other relevant agencies to inspect the affected section and undertake urgent repairs to restore the smooth movement of traffic.
Timely intervention will reduce delays, improve road safety and make commuting through the Circle area more convenient.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Citizen
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The harsh realities existing on the market are ignored when the youth are encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship without addressing structural barriers.
Forcing young people to start enterprises without collateral, personal resources, or family capital poses an instant obstacle. The youth just do not have the collateral that traditional banks require.
Forced entrepreneurs run the risk of turning their unemployment into crippling debt in the absence of accessible financing, flexible grants, or cash-flow-based funding.
It is entirely absurd to expect an unemployed graduate to gladly embrace extremely risky entrepreneurial endeavours while disregarding their rightful need for steady, compensated income.
A management consultant and start-up coach, Dr. Bernard Agyei Aryee, makes a crucial observation: “We may be producing more business owners without necessarily producing stronger businesses.”
Policymakers often commend state-sponsored programmes such as YouStart, the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). However, superficial criteria like the sheer number of micro grants awarded or the number of individuals crammed into a training hall are nearly always used to gauge their success.
Sustainability, revenue growth, and long-term company survival are the key indicators of true success. A training programme that produces a company that fails within six months is a complete waste of public funds.
The national strategy needs to shift from survivalist entrepreneurship to high-growth, structural development if we want youth-led businesses to succeed:
Students must no longer be taught to be passive compliance officers in anticipation of a professional desk job. Financial management, market analysis, and practical problem-solving must be actively promoted in the curriculum.
Financial institutions need to do away with old collateral rules. Young companies should be assessed using contemporary indicators such as market potential, confirmed transactions, and transparent cash flow.
To protect company support from political cycles, a national framework for entrepreneurship development is critically needed. This guaranties impartial evaluation and transparent beneficiary selection.
Well-established businesses need to take action. For young-led firms to survive, mentorship, internships, and active integration into supply chains are essential.
Instead of being a desperate survival strategy for young people turned off by the conventional employment market, The Spectator thinks that entrepreneurship could be an aspirational career path motivated by passion and market potential.
Telling young people to “just start a business” is merely passing the blame until the public and private sectors create a solid foundation of accessible funding, practical training, and structural support.
