Ghana’s Performing Lease Commissioner Fredrick Opoku has accused some landlords and hostel operators of exploiting college students with exorbitant room charges amid the nation’s financial difficulties.
He mentioned the rising price of hostel lodging is forcing some college students into determined conditions, together with prostitution, to outlive and pay hire.
speak Asempa FM Eco Shiisen presentOpoku described the state of affairs as unfair and unlawful.
“The folks of this nation are evil. Some landlords are profiting from financial hardship to inflate the costs of lodging. How can hostels on this nation cost as a lot as GHF8,000 per scholar?” he requested.
“We stay in a lawless zone, forcing some college students into prostitution simply to pay the hire,” he added.
Mr Opoku defined that whereas hostels are registered and monitored by the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Lease Management Authority is liable for assessing and regulating costs.
He mentioned the intervention adopted considerations raised by the Nationwide Union of Ghana College students (NUGS) concerning the continued enhance in hostel charges.
“The hostel is registered and monitored by the Ghana Tourism Authority and my involvement is in pricing. The valuation is finished by Lease Management. So NUGS referred to as us primarily based on the delicate valuation and rampant value hikes,” he mentioned.
He additional revealed that some hostel amenities had been working with out correct registration and might be held to account for his or her actions.
“Some folks have not even registered and we have to clarify that,” he mentioned.
The Performing Lease Commissioner argued that funding prices can’t be used to justify what he referred to as exploitative pricing.
“The query will not be how a lot was spent on development, however the legislation,” he harassed.
Opoku additionally criticized makes an attempt by some specialists and policymakers to make use of financial arguments to defend excessive costs.
“Some technocrats and policymakers wish to justify the unjust, and individuals are utilizing this to cheat and steal,” he argued.
Though he acknowledged that development prices are excessive, he argued that landlords ought to take into account the monetary assets of scholars and tenants.
“I agree that it’s costly to construct, however the necessary factor is that whenever you do enterprise, you take into account the folks you wish to serve and what these folks can afford,” he mentioned.
Mr Opoku described the state of affairs as “an evil and merciless act within the identify of funding” and questioned why the 4 college students in the identical room needed to be charged GH¢8,000 per semester.
“They’re the destroyers of the state. Their excuse is to usher in financial language to confuse the system,” he added.
