The Rent Control Commission and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have shut down two private hostels serving students of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) over poor sanitation, substandard living conditions and regulatory breaches.

The affected facilities, Serwaa Heights and Adehye3 Hostel, were closed following complaints by students, who also raised concerns about unsanitary conditions and what they described as arbitrary rent increases.

Officials from the Eastern Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, led by the Regional Director, Jones Haruna Nelson, and the Acting Rent Control Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, carried out an unannounced inspection of hostel facilities around the university after receiving complaints from students.

The inspection team first met with the Dean of Students before briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the purpose of the exercise.

Their first stop was Serwaa Heights, located about 300 metres from the university's small gate, where officials observed poor sanitation and unsatisfactory management conditions.

The Ghana Tourism Authority also discovered that the hostel was operating without the required registration.

"We came and realised that the place is not fit for purpose. We didn't know there were hostels here because they are doing illegal business. The place is unkempt, the air coming in is bad, so we have served them a notice of closure," Mr Haruna Nelson told journalists.

Students at the hostel told Channel One TV they were paying GH¢9,000 a year for single rooms and GH¢5,000 each for shared accommodation occupied by three students, despite the poor living conditions.

The inspection team later visited Adehye3 Hostel, located behind the university's main campus, where they found heaps of refuse at the entrance and other sanitation concerns.

Students there also expressed frustration over the conditions and called for the facility to be closed.

Following the inspections, the Ghana Tourism Authority issued closure notices to both hostels.

Mr Haruna Nelson said the action was necessary to protect students and ensure hostel operators comply with the standards required to operate legally.

Acting Rent Control Commissioner Frederick Opoku assured affected students that they would receive refunds for monies already paid and said the Commission would work closely with the Ghana Tourism Authority to safeguard the welfare of students renting private accommodation.

He said the two institutions would continue to inspect hostel facilities to ensure students have access to accommodation that meets acceptable health and safety standards.

Mr Opoku also vowed to clamp down on hostel operators exploiting students through poor facilities and unjustified rent charges.

He added that the Commission, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, would sustain the nationwide exercise to identify and close unlicensed and unsanitary hostel facilities.