The Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, has underscored the Rent Control Department’s commitment to establishing a comprehensive framework for regulating private hostel charges within Ghana, particularly for tertiary institutions preparing for the next academic year. This commitment was recently highlighted during a radio interview on Joy FM, where he addressed a significant volume of applications – approximately 100 – currently under assessment by the department.
He stated that the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), grants the Rent Control Department authority over premises across the country, excluding government-owned properties, to determine rental rates. The department’s initial assessment of these 100 private hostels began on August 19, 2026, with the expectation to complete the assessments within three months.
Mr. Opoku directly refuted the assertion by Chairman Bishop Dr Akwasi Owusu-Bi that the Hostel Owners Association lacks the mandate to regulate hostel charges. He asserted, ‘As we speak today, let me announce to you that I received 100 applications and they are all going to be assessed within the next three months, two months before school reopening.’
He clarified that the exercise is aligned with the Rent Act’s mandate, stating that private hostels are subject to rent laws despite having invested in their facilities. Section 10 of the Rent Act grants rent officers the authority to determine rent payable for premises. Mr. Opoku also warned hostel operators, stating, ‘Private hostels are not outside the law simply because they are investors.’
He emphasized that the Rent Control Department has been actively considering the potential for increased hostel charges, citing rising construction costs and statutory fees paid to state institutions, including the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ghana Tourism Authority. The figures provided by Bishop Owusu-Bi suggest that these fees represent a substantial portion of the overall cost of accommodation, potentially impacting student affordability.
The two sides have clashed over a meeting between the Rent Control Department and hostel operators in Kumasi, with Mr. Opoku requesting travel expenses to be covered by the government. He subsequently declined to travel, citing a lack of a budget, and emphasized that public funds should not be used for such meetings. He further stated that hostel operators should instead travel to Accra to meet him.
Mr. Opoku confirmed that he has declined to travel to Kumasi without a budget for the trip, stating that he could not use public funds to attend a meeting with a private association.
Regarding the issue of displaced students, he indicated that the government is considering alternative arrangements, though he did not specify the exact method. He reiterated that 90% of the hostels are illegal, not even paying taxes.
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Source: Graphic Online
