The Acting Rent Commissioner of Ghana's Rent Control Department, Frederick Opoku says no landlord in Ghana has the legal right to demand rent advance exceeding six months, stressing the law must work without fear or favour.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement session dubbed “Manifold Agenda With Landlords And Property Owners”, Mr. Opoku said his 10 months in office has revealed widespread ignorance of the rent law.

“To begin with, I want to show my appreciation once more for coming within this short period of time. Many of us were not in tune with the law. Many of us are ignorant of the law. It is time we step forward to take time to educate, sensitize, and bring everybody along,” he stated.

He explained that the engagement was not about enforcement but education.

“That is why I say I have never enforced anything in this country. I have visited. That is being interpreted as yes, it is enforced. I am about to step down. All what we saw was to engage, understand, and put the facts together. I wanted to know the problems of the landlords genuinely.”

“Rent Control is not against you (landlords). Rent Control will not undermine you. This engagement is for you to understand that we are going back together,” he established.

The Rent Control boss cited two key provisions in the Rent Act that landlords continue to violate.

He said: “It is on record under Section 25, subsection 5 of the law, that no landlord or property owner in this country, called Ghana, has any right whatsoever to demand rent advance exceeding six months. In the last 64 years, this has never been complied with.”

“Section 20 of the Rent Act stipulates clearly that landlords are obliged, it is a mandatory responsibility for the landlord to issue Rent cards. Failure to do that, there are consequences. You can go to jail.”

He also raised concerns about landlords taking money without issuing tenancy agreements.

Mr. Opoku insisted he will not compromise on enforcing the law.

“There may be instances that my commentary has been so hard to you. I am sorry if indeed you were hurt. But I want to be fair and say, I will still make the law work without any fear or favour.”

“If I have said something that didn't go well since I took office the last 10 months, that you should be able to forgive. That is not to say that I think I've made a mistake. Take it clear. Don't contradict my words. I'm speaking law. And I will enforce the law with all the force and the power that it deserves.”

He said the era where violations were overlooked is over and thanked President John Mahama for giving him the mandate to ensure efficiency.