Hostel essentials: how to furnish a room at KNUST or Legon for next to nothing

At the start of every academic year, the same thing happens around Ayeduase, Kotei and Bomso at KNUST, and around Legon. New students arrive needing a kettle, a bucket, a standing fan, a study desk and somewhere to put their clothes for their hostel room. Most of them buy all of it new, on a budget already stretched by fees.

At the end of the year, a few streets away, final-year students are throwing those exact items away, because carrying a mattress back to Takoradi makes no sense.

This guide is a hostel essentials checklist for anyone starting at KNUST, Legon, UCC or any other campus in Ghana: what you actually need, what is worth buying new, and how to get the rest free from the students who are leaving.

The gap is timing, not supply

The things exist. They are simply in the wrong hands at the wrong moment. Leavers have more than they can carry, and arrivers need all of it at once, but the two groups rarely meet. That is the gap worth closing, and it is why the end of the academic year is the best time to find almost everything on this list for free.

Hostel essentials checklist

Hostels and halls differ, so check what your room already has before you buy anything. Many come with a bed frame and a desk; some come with very little.

Sleeping

• Mattress, if the room does not include one
• Mattress protector
• Pillow, bedsheets and a light blanket
• Mosquito net

Studying

• Study desk and chair, if not provided
• Desk lamp or rechargeable lamp — useful when the power goes off
• Extension board with surge protection
• Shelf or crate for books

Keeping cool

• Standing fan or table fan
• Rechargeable fan, if power cuts are common where you are staying

Kitchen

Check your hall or hostel rules first. Many restrict cooking appliances in rooms.

• Electric kettle
• Flask
• A pot, a plate, a bowl, a cup and cutlery
• Food containers with lids
• Small gas cooker or hotplate, only if allowed

Bathroom and cleaning

• Bucket and bowl
• Towel and slippers
• Broom, dustpan and a mop
• Laundry basket or bag

Storage

• Plastic drawers, boxes or a small wardrobe
• Hangers
• A padlock for your wardrobe or chop box

What is worth buying new

Almost everything on the list can be second-hand. A few things are better new:

• Pillows and mattress protectors, for hygiene
• Extension boards, because a damaged one is a fire risk
• Anything electrical that looks worn — frayed cables, cracked plugs or scorch marks mean it should not be used

A used mattress can be fine if it is clean, dry and free of bed bugs. Check it carefully in daylight before you take it.

How to get the rest for free

Look at the end of the academic year

The weeks around final exams and departures are when leavers are giving things away. That is when to look, even if you do not move in until later — if you can store things, you can collect early.

Use Givny

On Givny, students leaving campus list what they cannot take with them, and you can request what you need. Search near your campus, and be ready to collect quickly: the best things go first.

Ask final-year students directly

If you know anyone in their final year, ask what they are leaving behind. Many are relieved to hand things to someone rather than throw them away.

If you are the one leaving

• List before you travel. A leaver who lists things a few weeks before departure gets them collected. One who lists the night before usually does not.
• Be honest about wear. A four-year-old fan that rattles is still worth having if the person knows.
• Meet at the hall or a landmark, not a vague "hostel gate", to save wasted trips.
• Bundle small things. "Kettle, bucket, two plates and a flask" is easier to give away as one listing than five.

Our guide on how to declutter your home works just as well for a hostel room.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a hostel room in Ghana?

The essentials are bedding, a mosquito net, a fan, a bucket, a kettle or flask, basic kitchen items, storage for your clothes and a lamp for power cuts. Check what the room already provides first.

Can I cook in my hostel room?

It depends on the hall or hostel. Many restrict cooking appliances, so check the rules before you buy or bring a cooker or hotplate.

Where can I get free hostel items?

From students who are leaving at the end of the academic year, and on Givny, where students list things they cannot take with them.

Is it safe to use a second-hand mattress?

It can be, if it is clean, dry, unstained and free of bed bugs. Inspect it in daylight before you take it, and use a new mattress protector.

---

Starting on campus soon, or leaving? See what students near you are giving away, or list what you can't take home.