Ghana’s Rent Commissioner Warns of Jail for Illegal Evictions and Crackdown on Exploitative Hostel Fees

Ghana's Acting Rent Commissioner, Fredrick Opoku, has launched a broad initiative to reform the nation's housing sector, issuing a stern warning to landlords against illegal evictions and the exploitation of tenants. Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Opoku emphasized that landlords who resort to self-help tactics—such as removing roofing sheets or forcibly ejecting tenants over rent disputes—are committing criminal acts. He asserted that such behaviors are blatant violations of human rights and could result in imprisonment. The Rent Control Department is now enforcing a zero-tolerance policy, insisting that all tenancy disputes be resolved through established legal procedures rather than intimidation or property destruction.

A significant portion of the Commissioner's intervention focuses on the plight of tertiary students, whom he claims are being subjected to wickedness and cruelty by some hostel operators. Opoku highlighted reports of students being charged as much as GH¢8,000 for accommodation, a financial burden so severe that some students have reportedly been pushed toward prostitution to cover their rent. To combat these arbitrary charges, the Rent Control Department is partnering with the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to conduct professional valuations of campus hostels. Under the Rent Act of 1963, all rental properties must undergo formal assessment, and the department maintains that high construction costs do not grant landlords the right to set prices without external regulatory oversight.

Beyond local disputes, the department is also addressing systemic issues affecting the broader economy through a strategic partnership with the Bank of Ghana. The Rent Commissioner is moving to eliminate the practice of quoting and paying rent in US dollars, reaffirming that all domestic transactions must be conducted in Ghana cedis. Opoku labeled the dollarization of the housing market as unlawful and part of a broader set of challenges that the government intends to solve. These efforts are tied to a larger legislative overhaul, with plans to finalize amendments to the Rent Act by the end of 2026 to ensure a balanced regulatory framework for both investors and tenants.