Students at the University of Ghana (UG) have expressed disappointment over the poor conditions of their halls, even after it was renovated by the Sports Ministry in preparation for the 2023 Africa Games.
The total amount of money spent on the renovation was $16 million.
A video circulating on social media, revealed the dismal state of the Dr. Hilla Limann, Alexander Kwapong, Elizabeth Frances Sey, and Jean Nelson Aka halls; highlighting leaking roofs, flooding, and deteriorating kitchens and study areas.
In an interview with Citi News, most of the students questioned the effectiveness of the renovation, stating that no improvement has been noticed since the renovation.
One student remarked, “I’ve been living here since my first year, and I haven’t seen any major changes despite the government claiming to have spent such a large sum on renovations.”
Meanwhile, the University’s management acknowledged that the hostels suffer from structural issues that cause flooding during heavy rains and assured the students that measures have been put in place to resolve these issues.
The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Rosina Kyerematen explained that the government was in charge of funding and overseeing the renovation work and not the university.
"When it rains heavily, not all the halls flood, but some sections do because of storm drain issues. This flooding also affects nearby roads, not just the halls.”
Prof. Kyerematen further mentioned that the university is collaborating with the PDSMD department to address the structural and drainage issues contributing to the flooding.
“This is mainly because of the storm drains. If you notice, the route from Madina to Tetteh Quarshie and Airport were seriously flooded because of the storm drains and they are connected to the University’s drainage system so once the storm drains overflow, then that backwash comes to Legon. It doesn’t flood just the halls, but the roads too.
“So, we are working with the PDSMD department, thus, the department responsible for structural issues on campus. Apart from the storm drains, some structural issues have to be addressed so the university is very concerned,” he explained.
Meanwhile, sources within the Sports Ministry have clarified that the contract with the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited did not include repair works on leaking ceilings.
Credit: myjoyonline.com