The Rent Control Department of the Ministry of Works and Housing is urging landlords and their tenants to report any disagreements that may arise over tenancy agreements for resolutions.
This, the department believes, will help in reducing landlord-tenant disputes that sometimes lead to violent confrontations.
Reacting to the alleged killing of a tenant by his landlord at Ofankor, the Chief Rent Officer at the Department, Twum Ampofo described as illegal, attempts by landlords to forcefully eject their tenants.
“It is unfortunate because rent control is there to settle disputes between landlords and tenants. And if it happens on weekends, we have the policemen around. The landlord could have even reported the case to the police to be advised to know what exactly to do but not to the extent of shooting the guy. It is rather unfortunate that this has happened but we are assuring them for now that we’ll cancel tenancy agreement which may come out and is against the natural justice. Because I don’t see why you’ll be at home and prepare a tenancy agreement which will only benefit you,” he noted.
Background
The tenant died from gunshot wounds after he was shot multiple times on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at Spot M near Ofankor in Accra.
According to police, the deceased was brought to the police station unconscious by some persons around 1:45 pm.
The complainant alleged that the deceased had been shot by his landlord, Victor Stephen Kankam, for refusing to vacate a room rented out to him.
He was then rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, the Abeka District Magistrate court has remanded the landlord into police custody. He is to return to court on June 8, 2020.
The accused had earlier told the police that his action was in self-defence after the deceased failed to vacate the two-bedroom house he was occupying.
To confirm this, the Ghana Police Service has disclosed that the gun used by the landlord was legally acquired and registered in 2007.