Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Chair, Abena Osei‑Asare, greeted Acting Rent Control Commissioner Frederick Opoku as an “action man” during his Wednesday, October 7, 2026, appearance before the committee. Osei‑Asare praised Opoku’s recent efforts to enforce rent regulations and scrutinise charges at private hostels, saying, “Oh, you are the man all over the place. Very interesting character. Welcome. You are an action man.”
Opoku has intensified inspections of student hostels across Ghana, warning operators of practices he deems contrary to the Rent Control Act. In May, the department ordered private hostel owners to suspend fee increases for the 2026/2027 academic year pending stakeholder consultation. Opoku’s inspections uncovered overcrowding, poor ventilation and what he described as “cubicles, not hostels” in some facilities.
He has also taken action against illegal operations, closing five hostels in Koforidua and identifying about 25 unlawful hostels in Sunyani. The commissioner maintains that private premises, except government-owned properties, fall under the Rent Control Department’s jurisdiction.
Some operators, such as Ghana Hostels Limited, have criticised Opoku’s comments on charges at the Pentagon Hostel, alleging insufficient due diligence and a misleading impression of the facility. Despite pushback, Opoku remains firm that operators must comply with the law and that accommodation charges deserve regulatory scrutiny.
Osei‑Asare’s welcoming remarks came amid a broader push to tighten rent controls and protect students from escalating accommodation costs. The committee will continue to monitor the department’s enforcement activities and the impact on private hostel operators.
