President John Dramani Mahama said Ghana will begin a major expansion of on-campus student housing, citing safety risks linked to off-campus accommodation and rising enrollment pressures at public universities.
Speaking at the University of Ghana’s 77th Annual New Year’s School and Conference, Mahama said the government has signed an agreement in Singapore to deliver prefabricated housing units capable of accommodating about 10,000 students and staff at the Legon campus. Equipment for the project is already en route to Accra, he said.
“Most of our students now live outside campus and commute daily,” Mahama said, referencing recent fatal incidents involving students who were knocked down or attacked while traveling to lectures. “It is preferable that as many students as possible live on campus.”
Once the University of Ghana project is completed, similar housing developments will be considered for other public universities, including KNUST and others.
Mahama framed the housing initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen social infrastructure alongside economic reforms. He said education, safety and student welfare must keep pace with macroeconomic recovery to ensure inclusive development.
The president also reflected on his own student experience at Commonwealth Hall, describing how campus life helped shape his confidence and leadership skills. The anecdote underscored what he said was the enduring role of public universities in national development.
Beyond education, Mahama said Ghana has moved out of economic crisis and is now positioned to pursue long-term growth. Inflation has fallen to just above 5%, public debt has dropped to about 45% of GDP, and foreign exchange reserves have climbed to $13.8 billion, he said.
According to the president, government will now focus on value addition and job creation, including plans to require local processing of minerals, petroleum and agricultural products before export. Infrastructure investment remains central, with more than $30 billion allocated for the Big Push program in 2026.
Mahama reiterated that Accra would remain Ghana’s capital, even as the government plans a new Green Digital City to relocate some institutions and ease congestion in the capital.
He closed by calling for collaboration between government, academia and civil society, saying development must extend beyond economic indicators to address safety, opportunity and quality of life.
“Stability must translate into dignity and opportunity,” Mahama said, “especially for our young people.”
