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Suspend rent increases or face legal action – Acting Rent Commissioner warns hostel operators
The Acting Rent Commissioner of Ghana, Mr Frederick Opoku, has directed all hostel operators across the country to suspend any planned rent increases, warning that defaulters would face legal action as the government intensifies enforcement of rent laws.
The directive forms part of a broader campaign by the Rent Control Department to regulate accommodation charges, protect tenants from exploitation and ensure compliance with existing housing regulations.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Opoku stated that hostel operators who had issued notices of rent increments after the department’s directive must withdraw them immediately. He added that students and tenants should disregard such notices and report offenders to the Rent Control Department.
Mr Opoku also announced plans to register all landlords nationwide to improve accountability and strengthen the administration of rent-related matters.
He stated that relief had come for tenants, explaining that all hostel rent increases had been halted. He added that any student who received a notice announcing a rent increment after the directive should ignore it and submit a copy to the Rent Control Department for the necessary action.
Mr Opoku further disclosed that the department had collaborated with the Ghana Tourism Authority to monitor and regulate hostel facilities, particularly those operating without the required licences and registration.
He expressed concern about the poor conditions in some student hostels, describing a number of facilities inspected by his team as cubicles rather than suitable accommodation.
According to him, some rooms measuring about 16 feet by eight feet were accommodating up to four occupants under poor ventilation conditions, while charging what he described as excessive fees.
Mr Opoku stated that all landlords would be required to register with the Rent Control Department and obtain unique identification numbers before accessing any of its services.
He explained that landlords who failed to register would not be attended to at any Rent Control office across the country.
He further indicated that the department would begin strict enforcement after six months of public education on the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.
The Acting Rent Commissioner reiterated that the law prohibits landlords from demanding rent advances exceeding six months and warned that offenders would be prosecuted.
While commending landlords for their role in housing delivery, he urged them to comply with the law and avoid practices that placed undue hardship on tenants.
Mr Opoku assured the public that the department would continue its reform and digitisation agenda to improve service delivery and promote peaceful landlord-tenant relations across the country.
By Eugene Ampiaw
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
