NATUG Responds To Rent Control Over NUGS Petition

Reindolph Afrifa-Oware

 

The National Tenants Union of Ghana (NATUG) has stated that its office stands ready to collaborate with the Rent Control Department, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), and all relevant stakeholders in ensuring that justice, fairness, and legality prevail in Ghana’s rental housing system.

Their stand stems from an earlier petition issued by the student union to the Rent Control Commissioner, Rent Control Department, Ministry of Works and Housing, citing systemic abuse of tenants’ rights, particularly affecting students, one of the most financially vulnerable groups in the society.

The petition addresses unlawful treatment and potential eviction threats by property owners against students who report high costs.

In a letter dated April 23, 2026, NUGS raised concerns about what it described as arbitrary and exploitative pricing of hostel facilities, particularly by private operators around university campuses.

The union noted that in recent academic years, students have faced persistent and unjustified increases in hostel fees, often imposed without adherence to the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), and without consideration of the financial challenges of students and their families.

In a letter signed by Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs, NATUG, in alignment with the demands of NUGS, the association called on the ministry to launch an immediate nationwide audit and investigation into hostel pricing structures within and around tertiary institutions.

“Enforce strict compliance with the six-month rent advance limit as stipulated by the law. Sanction non-compliant hostel operators and landlords to serve as a deterrent. Establish a dedicated complaint and response mechanism for student tenants. Collaborate with student leadership, including NUGS, NATUG, and stakeholders to develop a sustainable framework for fair and regulated hostel accommodation,” it advised the ministry.

Afrifa-Oware further stated that exploitation within the student housing sector is a reflection of a wider national housing crisis that requires firm enforcement, policy direction, and institutional commitment.

“NATUG stands ready to collaborate with the Rent Control Department, NUGS, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that justice, fairness, and legality prevail in Ghana’s rental housing system. We must act now – firmly and decisively – to protect tenants, safeguard students, and restore confidence in our housing regulatory framework,” it added.

BY Prince Fiifi Yorke

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