Sunyani Residents Decry Exorbitant Rent

Banku19 hours ago

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Residents within the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region have expressed worry over what they describe as exorbitant rent charges imposed by landlords.

According to the residents, rent rates have surged by between 300 and 400 per cent over the last five years without a corresponding increase in income levels, worsening the cost of living in the area. They noted that the situation had been compounded by landlords’ insistence on a minimum two-year advance payment.

Communities such as Fiapre, Airport Residential Area, Abesim, Berlin Top, Nkwabeng, and Mayfair were cited as locations where rent charges are particularly high.

A banker, Mr Emmanuel Dei, told The Ghanaian Times that he was currently paying GH¢1,000 monthly for a chamber and hall self-contained apartment at the Dr Opoku Clinic area in Sunyani, noting that the landlord demanded a two-year advance payment.

He said that despite his plea to pay for only one year, the landlord insisted on the full two-year amount. Mr Dei added that the condition of the room was not up to standard, explaining that he had to spend additional money to undertake renovations before his family could move in.

For his part, a rent agent, Mr Benjamin Addo, noted that the cost of a single-room self-contained unit, which five years ago ranged between GH¢200 and GH¢300 per month, now goes for between GH¢700 and GH¢1,200, depending on the building and location.

Speaking on the development, a Sunyani-based human rights advocate, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, called on the government to take urgent action to address the rising cost of rent in the country.

He said some landlords were exploiting the limited availability of housing to impose exorbitant charges on tenants, a situation he described as deeply worrying. Mr Ahenu cautioned that if the situation was not addressed, it could have long-term implications on national development, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups struggling to secure decent accommodation.

“The rental rates being demanded by some landlords amount to a violation of citizens’ fundamental right to adequate and dignified shelter,” he said.

He added that the rising cost of rent was depriving many hardworking Ghanaians of decent living conditions and urged the government to intervene to protect the poor and vulnerable from exploitation.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Deputy Bono Regional Rent Control Officer, Mr Kennedy Adjei, confirmed that the Department was aware of the rising rental charges in Sunyani and was taking pragmatic steps to address the situation.

He explained that the surge in rent in Sunyani was being driven by several factors, including population growth and the increasing influx of people into the municipality.

According to him, the arrival of staff of the Newmont Ahafo Mines, who had the financial capacity to pay higher rent, coupled with the growing number of tertiary students, had contributed significantly to the sharp increase in rental rates.

“As more workers move into Sunyani, the demand for accommodation has outstripped supply,” he stated.

Mr Adjei further noted that some agents were also contributing to the situation by influencing landlords to raise rents so they could charge higher agent fees, often around 10 per cent. He appealed to the public to report such practices to the Rent Control Department for appropriate action.

FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH, SUNYANI