University of Ghana Enterprise Limited CEO Yawo Agbesi has rejected claims of student exploitation over a proposed 26 per cent hostel fee increase.

Published 9 Nov 2026, 21:04 GMT

2 min read

University of Ghana sign at the Legon campus — University of Ghana, Legon

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Yawo Agbesi, Chief Executive Officer of University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL), has rejected allegations of student exploitation linked to the company's proposed 26 per cent hostel fee increase.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, November 9, Agbesi rejected accusations from protesting Legon students, who began a three-day demonstration demanding the immediate reversal of the fee increment and the scrapping of the UGEL hostel management system.

"No, we are not in any way trying to exploit the students," Agbesi said, adding that University of Ghana Enterprise Limited was reviewing the grievances with student representatives rather than debating its operational challenges in public.

UGEL Chief Executive Yawo Agbesi — Yawo Agbesi, CEO of UGEL — Credit: UGEL

Protesting students had accused university authorities of placing revenue ahead of student welfare, arguing that rising accommodation costs and poor conditions in some halls could force financially disadvantaged students to abandon their studies.

UG students demonstrate over rising accommodation fees

Agbesi insisted that the company valued students as its primary stakeholders: "We have a lot of respect for the students. We treat them as our constituents."

"So without them, definitely there will be no business; there will be no UGEL," he said.

He said management was holding talks with the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) after the university withdrew the proposed 26 per cent hike for further consultations.

"In fact, as we speak, we have continued engaging the Graduate Students Association of Ghana and the SRC on these rates that we proposed initially and had discussions with them," he noted.

"We will still go back to the drawing board and have further discussions with them, and then we will come to an amicable solution and revert with our finalised fees," Agbesi said.

Responding to a reported directive from the Rent Control Department ordering refunds to affected students by November 17, Agbesi pointed to a Sunday communiqué from the University of Ghana's Public Affairs Directorate stating that consultations were still underway.

"At the end of the period, if any refunds would have to be made, they will be credited to the accounts of the students," he added.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

UGEL CEO says firm is &#39;not exploiting&#39; UG students, expects fee deal soon

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UGEL CEO says firm is 'not exploiting' UG students, expects fee deal soon

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