Residents of Nautical area in Nungua, a suburb of Accra, are complaining about the high cost of accommodation in the area.
According to the residents, the exorbitant rent charges were due to the presence of the Maritime University which is located in the heart of the area.
“Since the establishments of the Maritime University, houses in this area have been turned into hostels and those who already live in such houses are being compelled to either pay extra monies or are asked evicted,” some residents told the paper.
They bitterly expressed that non availability of lands for them to acquire and build their own houses stressing that the few lands available are only sold to those who will be using them for hostel facilities.
In this regard, some of the residents appealed to the authorities of the university to provide more accommodation facilities for them.
“We lived in peace until the university was established, and now a single room cost GH¢50 a month and cases GH¢100,” bemoaned a resident.
TODAY caught up with some students of Maritime University who lamented over the fact the hostels on campus were not enough for them. This, they stressed, has compelled many of them to rent outside campus.
A student who gave his name as Isaac, a Cameroonian, complained that it is expensive staying on campus because they are not allowed to cook their own foods.
He also lamented over the situation where at least ten students were admitted in a room which to him was not in the best interest of students.
“As a result of the congestion in my room I (Isaac) contracted chicken pox and other skin diseases last year,” the Cameroonian student disclosed.
He added that it was easy for foreign students who lived outside campus to stay in the country when school was on vacation compared to those on the school campus who were often compelled to leave immediately school vacated.
Musah, another student, shared a different view on life on campus. He explained that students who were living on campus were enjoying their stay.
Many of the students who spoke to our reporters further seized the chance to appeal to the authorities of the school to put up more hostel facilities.
BY LINDA BEBIYE AND EVELYN OSAFO
