The GH¢32 million five-storey facility was constructed by the UCC branch of the Ghana University Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS).

The project, started in 2014, was funded with a GH¢24 million loan from Prudential Bank Limited and supplemented with funds from the scheme.

The ultra-modern edifice has 387 rooms and 12 special rooms with the capacity to accommodate 1,184 students.

It also has 66 spacious rooms with special washroom facilities for physically challenged students and lifts to aid their movement. Each room has a bedroom suite with kitchenette and washroom.

All floors have spacious reading rooms and library while the facility has generator set and bio gas plant for constant power supply.

Additionally, it has a grocery shop, salon, pharmacy, internet café, photocopy centre, CCTV cameras, rain harvesters and water tanks to provide uninterrupted water supply.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. John Yaw Opoku, chairman of GUSSS Management Committee, said proceeds from the hostel would be used to improve the pension payment of members.

Recounting history of the edifice, he said the GUSSS was established in 1961 by the government to provide terminal benefits to retiring senior members but later converted into a pension scheme.

It was to cease operation in 2013 following the passage of the National Pensions Act (Act766) but was allowed to operate under the Act after some stakeholders intervened.

He said in 2013 each branch was tasked to embark on a project to supplement their pension benefits which was not adequate, hence the decision to construct the hostel.

Mr. Opoku appealed to government to allow the GUSSS to operate for five more years, by which time it would undertake more projects to be able to wean itself from government pension payment.

He expressed gratitude to the university for providing the land for the project, and other stakeholders for their support towards the completion of the project.

Outgoing Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Domwini Kuupole urged other unions to undertake  similar projects to help reduce the accommodation challenges and tasked GUSSS to maintain the hostel.

Meanwhile, the University has inaugurated a Campus Broadcasting Services Centre which would host its radio Station; ATL FM, online portal and yet-to-be launched television station.

The two storey facility, would also house the Student Representative Council secretariat and other student unions.

 From Jonathan Donkor, Cape Coast