Ghana's University of Cape Coast signs $500m deal for 28,000-bed student housing
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The University of Cape Coast has signed a memorandum of understanding with GSC Property Investment for a US$500 million student accommodation project comprising 28 hostel blocks under a public-private partnership.
The University of Cape Coast is to benefit from a US$500 million private-sector investment to construct 28 hostel blocks with capacity to accommodate up to 28,000 students under a public-private partnership arrangement.
The project, being undertaken by GSC Property Investment, is expected to be completed within five years at no direct cost to the state, and the facilities will eventually be transferred to the university after the agreed concession period. It will also include a commercial centre, catering centre, entertainment and cinema centre, a student activity centre, parking facilities and other supporting infrastructure.
Addressing the press in Accra, the Minister of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said the project formed part of efforts to address the acute accommodation deficit at UCC and to reduce the burden on students who depend on private accommodation around the university. He said the university would provide the investor with relevant data to support feasibility studies and the design of the project, subject to government approval.
The minister urged other public universities to explore similar public-private partnership arrangements to expand infrastructure, increase access to higher education and support teaching, innovation and research. He also assured that government would ensure accommodation charges under the arrangement remained within the affordability limits of students.
The Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Professor Denis Worlanyo Aheto, described the project as a major breakthrough for a university facing serious accommodation challenges, and said the initiative had the strong backing of the university's Governing Council and was in line with government policy on public-private partnerships.
Professor Aheto said the period leading to the end of 2026 would be used to undertake feasibility studies and complete other regulatory requirements, including securing approval from the Ministry of Finance, with the project expected to commence by January 2027. He said the partnership supports his vision to provide accommodation for no fewer than 40,000 students on the UCC campus.