The Rent Control Department has announced a nationwide compliance exercise targeting hostel operators across Ghana’s tertiary institutions, following growing concerns over alleged exploitative pricing, excessive advance rent demands, and arbitrary increases in accommodation fees. …
Rent Control targets universities in crackdown on exorbitant hostel feesGhana Minute.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization
Rent Control Department
Ghanaian government agency overseeing rental sector compliance, currently conducting inspections of tertiary institution hostels over pricing practices.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- May 2026
- April 2026
The Rent Control Department has announced a nationwide compliance exercise targeting hostel operators across Ghana’s tertiary institutions, following concerns over alleged exploitative pricing, arbitrary rent increases, and excessive advance rent demands. …
Rent Control Department cracks down on hostels over exploitative pricing, illegal rent advances
Society
Acting Rent Commissioner links high student housing costs to prostitution
The News
Ghana's Acting Rent Commissioner Fredrick Opoku has accused some landlords and hostel operators of exploiting students through excessive accommodation charges, stating that rising hostel costs are pushing some students into prostitution to pay rent. The Rent Control Department is assessing hostel pricing following concerns from the National Union of Ghana Students over continuous fee increases.
Why it matters
Acting Rent Commissioner linking high student housing costs to prostitution exposes systemic exploitation of vulnerable students requiring urgent policy intervention.
11 hours ago · Joy Online →
Yesterday
Acting Rent Commissioner links high student housing costs to prostitution
Ghana's Acting Rent Commissioner Fredrick Opoku has accused some landlords and hostel operators of exploiting students through excessive accommodation charges, stating that rising hostel costs are pushing some students into prostitution to pay rent. The Rent Control Department is assessing hostel pricing following concerns from the National Union of Ghana Students over continuous fee increases.
11 hours ago · Joy Online →
Landlords face jail for removing tenants' roofs over rent
Ghana's Acting Rent Commissioner Fredrick Opoku has warned landlords that removing a tenant's roof or forcibly ejecting occupants without due process over rent disputes is criminal and will result in prosecution and imprisonment. He said the Rent Control Department will not tolerate "self-evictions" and described such actions as violations of human rights.
11 hours ago · Joy Online →
Rent Commissioner questions profitability of expensive hostel projects
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.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Rent Commissioner calls for local building materials to lower housing costs
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.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Rent Commissioner calls for crackdown on dollar-priced rentals
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.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Rent Commissioner warns of lawlessness in Ghana's rental sector
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.
23 hours ago · Joy Online →
Acting Rent Commissioner questions use of dollars in Ghana's rental market
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.
23 hours ago · Joy Online →
Sunday 10 May
Economic Fighters League condemns high hostel fees at UG
The Students Command of the Economic Fighters League has condemned hostel accommodation charges at the University of Ghana, citing private operators charging as much as GH₵24,000 for single rooms and GH₵10,000 each for shared spaces, and calling it a social crisis that excludes ordinary students.
10 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Friday 8 May
GRASAG supports rent control intervention on hostel fees
The Graduate Students' Association of Ghana has backed the Rent Control Department's actions to address rising hostel and accommodation costs at tertiary institutions, describing continuous fee increases as exploitative and placing severe financial pressure on graduate students.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Rent Control clarifies hostel fee clampdown protects students fairly
The Rent Control Department says its clampdown on unlawful hostel fee increases aims to ensure fairness and protect students from rising accommodation costs, not to discourage investment. Acting Rent Commissioner Fredrick Opoku stated the department will continue nationwide assessments until year-end through engagement and proper evaluation, urging hostel operators to consult before raising fees.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Tuesday 5 May
Rent Control Department begins inspections on university hostels
Ghana's Rent Control Department has announced a nationwide compliance exercise targeting hostel operators at tertiary institutions, following a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students over alleged exploitative pricing and excessive advance rent demands. Direct inspections begin Wednesday, May 6, 2026, starting with selected universities in Accra including the University of Ghana, UPSA, and Wisconsin International University College.
5 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Monday 27 April
Rent Control Department investigates hostel operators over pricing practices
Ghana's Rent Control Department has launched a nationwide compliance exercise targeting hostel operators at tertiary institutions following concerns over exploitative pricing, arbitrary rent increases, and excessive advance rent demands. The move was triggered by a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students calling for enforcement of the Rent Act, 1963, with the Department warning that violators face sanctions including possible prosecution.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →