By Elijah Adansi-Bonah
The law of demand has made landlords at Madina so powerful that one has to either obey their rules or sleep outside.
I understood this situation when I realized that the absence of the Rent Control Department (RCD) is one of the reasons landlords make tenants uncomfortable.
The law of demand simply means that when the price of a commodity is low, the demand is high and when the price of a commodity is high the demand is less.
This high demand for rooms may be attributed to Madina’s closeness to the University of Ghana (UG) and University of Professional Studies (UPSA).
Landlords at Madina charge rent between GH¢ 50.00 and 80.00 for single rooms and GH¢ 100.00 to 150.00 for a chamber and hall monthly.
Landlords charge two to three years’ rent advance instead of six months’ rent advance as mentioned in RCD’s laws.
A resident of Madina Zongo, Hadr Subtwu, said most landlords do not go by RCD laws in the municipality.
“My friend’s landlord ejected him because he did not accept an increase of rent charge within their agreement period which had not expired,” said Subtwu.
A 60-year old landlord, Madam Ayishetu Mumuni, said she charges GH¢ 50.00 monthly for a single room and GH¢ 100.00 for a chamber and hall.
A 28-year old Ivorian lady, Syntyche Ore, said she lives in a wooden kiosk with her four siblings; a brother and three sisters. She said harsh rent situation compelled them to rent a kiosk which is cheaper.
“In La Cote d’Ivoire, rent charges are paid monthly,” said Ore.
A resident preparing food in front of her rented kiosk
The La Nkwatanang Madina Municipal Assembly (LANMMA) Environmental Health Officer, Joseph Quarcoe, said, as a new assembly created in June 2012, they have no office for RCD. Thus, landlords and tenants go to the Accra office of RCD to have their issues addressed.
The station officer at the Madina Police Station, Chief Inspector Boadu, said the absence of RCD puts pressure on his office. He said arbitrary rent charging is a nationwide problem, not limited to Madina. Thus, RCD must implement its laws to the utmost.
“We have no authority to handle such matters except the criminal aspect of it,” said Chief Inspector Boadu.
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