The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) under its Teachers Fund (TF) has inaugurated a GH�5.8 million ultra modern hostel facility on the campus of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.
The 1,000-bed facility, which is currently the largest privately-owned hostel on the UG campus, is expected to ease the perennial problem of inadequate accommodation on the campus of the nation's premier University.
The facility christened: "TF Hostels" has internet connectivity, modern well-furnished reading rooms, kitchens, grocery, eatery, laundry among other amenities.
Education Minister Alex Tettey-Enyo, who inaugurated the edifice on Monday, commended GNAT for the move saying the facility was a demonstration of the contribution of teachers to develop education in the country.
"This hostel facility will undoubtedly help in alleviating the accommodation challenges on the Legon Campus", he said.
The Minister called on students to patronize the facility and appealed to the University authorities to cooperate and provide a more enabling environment to make the investment worthwhile.
He encouraged other workers' unions to emulate the example of GNAT, saying "Let us continue to teach others the way forward".
Mr Tettey-Enyo reaffirmed government's commitment to implement the Single Spine Salary Structure to promote equity and fairness in public sector salaries and wages. He added that its introduction would improve the lot of teachers and attract and retain highly skilled professionals.
"The government will work hard to make sure the teaching profession is attractive. Teachers, lets remain relentless in contributing to the
development of mother Ghana for in due season we shall reap if we faint not", he said.
Prof. Kwesi Yankah, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University commended the managers of the Fund for the facility saying, "The challenges of
accommodation over the years, is receding and this facility is a relief to the University".
He, however, called on the operators of private hostels on Campus to operate under the regulations of the University, complaining of the moral decadence and indiscipline being witnessed at such private facilities.
"Private hostels, including this one we are inaugurating should operate strictly under the University's regulations. There is so much liberty to the extent of moral laxity being exhibited by students.
"The nature of indiscipline taking place in these private hostels suggests that their operators should join the University to instill
discipline in our students", Prof Yankah stated.
Mr Samuel Ofori Adjei, Chairman of the Board of the Teachers Fund, repeated that the hostel facility was GNAT's "modest contribution towards
helping to address the perennial accommodation problems on the University of Ghana campus".
He said the managers of the Fund were passionate about making substantial contribution to the education sector and were currently
exploring other avenues it could partner the sector ministry and the Ghana Education Service to provide quality education for national development.
The Teachers Fund was established in 1998 as a collective investment scheme to support members to save towards their retirements.
The Fund invests monthly contributions of teachers in profitable ventures to create wealth for members. For the last six years, the Fund's
investment policy has been geared towards direct long term investments.
It is now in property development, which includes the university hostel and the TF Heights, a modern office complex at Ridge. The fund is currently valued in excess of GH�70 million with over 150 thousand contributors.
It also operates three subsidiaries; TF properties, TF Financial Services and Credit Mall Limited.