Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku defended housing and hostel pricing structures around university campuses, arguing that landlords and property owners operate within different income tiers that should determine accommodation costs. He also stressed the importance of using local building materials to reduce costs and strengthen the local industry.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Commissioner of the Rent Control Department argues that housing developers must consider the income levels and economic circumstances of their target market, rather than building high-cost projects that exploit vulnerable groups such as students. He stressed that responsible investment decisions and a market-sensitive approach to housing provision are essential to ensure fairness in Ghana's rental sector.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Commissioner of the Rent Control Department has urged real estate developers to prioritise locally sourced construction materials to reduce rental charges, arguing that reliance on imported materials drives up construction and rental costs, particularly for students and low-income earners.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Rent Control Commissioner has expressed concern about increasing use of US dollars to price rent in Ghana, calling the practice unacceptable and contrary to legal tender regulations. He said his office would deepen collaboration with the Bank of Ghana to enforce compliance and protect the integrity of Ghana's rental and financial systems.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku says private hostel accommodation charges must be subjected to proper and scientific assessment processes to ensure fairness for both investors and students, while acknowledging investors' concerns about recovering construction costs and loan expenses.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku has accused private hostel operators of exploiting students by bundling utility charges into fixed accommodation fees rather than allowing students to pay directly for their own electricity consumption. He argues the practice is unfair in shared accommodation where students have different usage levels and inflates rental costs under the guise of operational expenses.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku has defended the legal basis for rental property assessments, stating that Ghana's Rent Act clearly outlines that tenants bear the costs of rent assessments and sets specific procedures for applications and reviews. He noted that rent officers cannot entertain repeated assessment applications unless there is evidence of changed circumstances, fraud, fresh evidence, or previous injustice, and that the Minister is empowered to assess recoverable rents for premises established using public funds.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Commissioner of the Rent Control Department has raised concerns about a growing culture of lawlessness in Ghana's property and rental sector, citing landlords and developers who disregard legal frameworks by charging exorbitant rents in US dollars rather than the local currency.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku has criticised landlords and property owners for advertising and charging rents in US dollars despite the cedi being Ghana's legal tender, calling the practice unlawful and a sign of weak enforcement of financial regulations. The Rent Control Department is engaging the Bank of Ghana to help curb dollarisation in the property sector.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku says landlords cannot arbitrarily set rental prices without proper assessment as required by law, criticizing "lawlessness" in Ghana's rental market where tenants face arbitrary pricing and advance payment demands in cities like Accra and Kumasi.
12 May 2026 · Joy Online →