From 'Toothless Bulldog' to Apology: Acting Rent Commissioner retracts past criticisms

The Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, has publicly apologised to staff of the Rent Control Department for his previous criticisms of the institution, admitting that his views were shaped by limited knowledge of the department’s internal challenges.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme on March 11, 2026, Opoku said his perspective had changed after assuming office and witnessing the department’s conditions firsthand.

“In terms of resources, Rent Control is in a deplorable state. It is very bad and I don’t want to describe it,” he said.

Opoku acknowledged that before his appointment, he frequently criticised the department while serving as General Secretary of the National Tenants Union Association of Ghana for more than a decade.

During that period, he said he had described the Rent Control Department as a ‘toothless bulldog’ and even labelled it ‘useless’ due to what he believed was its inability to effectively regulate rent issues.

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However, he admitted that he had not fully understood the circumstances under which the department was operating.

“Today, let me use this opportunity to apologise to Rent Control and all their officers. I didn’t know what was inside; how they were suffering and how ill-resourced they were,” he stated.

According to Opoku, the challenges confronting the department are the result of years of neglect and should not be blamed solely on the institution.

“If Rent Control over the years is not performing effectively, all governments should be blamed for the bad state of affairs. They have failed woefully,” he indicated.

He further noted that successive administrations had largely overlooked the department, limiting its ability to effectively regulate Ghana’s rental housing sector.

Opoku emphasised the need for increased government support and adequate resources to strengthen the operations of the Rent Control Department and enable it to better address the country’s growing rent-related disputes.

MRA/AE

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