Frederick Opoku, the Acting Rent Control Commissioner, has warned rental agents and brokers against charging tenants commissions exceeding the legally permitted 5% of the annual rent.
He described agents who demand 10% commissions as unlawful.
According to Mr Opoku, Section 25(1) of the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), prohibits agents, brokers and intermediaries from charging commissions above 5% of the annual rent.
He disclosed that the Rent Control Department would collaborate with the Real Estate Agency Council to clamp down on agents who violate the law.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Opoku said, “Agents who take 10% is unlawful and that they need to be criminalised.”
He further revealed that the department would intensify efforts to rid the rental market of unqualified operators who engage in unlawful practices.
Mr Opoku also questioned the practice of charging tenants fees for rental arrangements they did not initiate, arguing that tenants should not be made to bear the cost of transactions they were not responsible for.
“The question is, have the tenants in any way contracted the property to give out?” he asked.
Beyond the issue of agent commissions, the Acting Rent Control Commissioner cautioned landlords against using unlawful means to evict tenants.
He warned against forcibly removing tenants, changing locks, confiscating or removing their belongings, and disconnecting essential utilities to compel them to vacate rented premises.
“Ownership of the rental property does not confer an unrestricted right to remove a tenant outside lawful procedures,” he said.
Mr Opoku’s remarks underscore the department’s stated intention to strengthen enforcement of rental regulations, protect tenants from unlawful charges and ensure that landlords follow due process when seeking to recover their properties.
In related news, the Acting Rent Commissioner has announced that the former Akufo-Addo government blew $1.7 million of taxpayers’ money on a non-existent digitalisation deal without any contract.
The acting Rent Commissioner detailed that $1.4 million was released as the first tranche for the project, revealing that the digital platforms were not delivered despite the disbursement.
According to the Acting Rent Commissioner, he has not been able to find the contract for the deal since he became Rent Commissioner.
Speaking on Okay FM on September 29, 2026, Frederick Opoku stated, “Ghanaians are their own enemies, and we are killing ourselves in this country. Somewhere in 2024, we heard that rent control had been digitised under the NPP government. Can you believe that the former government dished out $1.7M of taxpayers’ money for the digitalisation process of rent control?”
“Per my records today, I am sorry and sad because, out of this $1.7M, $1.4M, which was the first tranche of money allocated, was released for the process without a contract. I have been asking for the contract since I came, but have received nothing. Thereafter, they came and demanded $360,000,” he added.
Frederick Opoku disclosed that per the project proposal, landlords were supposed to be registered and provided with tablets.
“Lastly, they said they were registering landlords and would give them tablets, but that didn’t happen,” he revealed.
“I have written to the Minister of Works and Housing to investigate because we are poised to get our systems. If they had done the digital platforms, I would have taken over from where they left off and continued the work,” he disclosed.
“Ghanaians should question the previous government over the current state of rent control. We can’t continue to create, loot, and share. We can’t allow taxpayers’ money to go to waste, so heads must roll… we must go and search for that money,” he called.
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