The Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, has defended officers of the Rent Control Department against claims of incompetence, attributing challenges in the department largely to inadequate resources.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mr Opoku said he previously criticised the department and described its officers as incompetent, but changed his view after joining the institution and experiencing its operational challenges firsthand.
He said the problem is not that officers are unwilling to work, but that the department lacks the logistical support needed to effectively carry out its mandate.
“I have touched the case… I have told the world that they are incompetent. I used all kinds of words against them. When I entered, I realised that it wasn’t the officers who were not acting. You saw the reality. It was the fact that Rent Control has been deprived of resources,” he said.
According to Frederick Opoku, the Rent Control Department currently has only two vehicles to support its operations, despite its responsibility to engage with the public and handle housing-related cases.
“Can you imagine a department with only two vehicles in citizens’ offices?” he asked.
He said the shortage of vehicles affects the department’s ability to conduct assessments and respond effectively to cases.
“If you give them two vehicles, how do we expect them to do assessment?” he questioned.
Mr Opoku is therefore appealing to the government to provide the Rent Control Department with more vehicles and other resources to enable it to perform its functions effectively.
He expressed confidence in President John Mahama’s commitment to addressing challenges in the housing sector, saying he believes the government can provide the support needed to transform the department.
“I have so much confidence in this president and I have believed in his words and his policies. I believe in the agenda of housing,” he said.
Mr Opoku added that providing the department with the necessary vehicles could help transform Rent Control into a more proactive institution.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
