The Commissioner of the Rent Control Department, Frederick Opoku, has raised concerns over the increasing practice of charging rent in United States dollars in parts of Ghana, describing the trend as unacceptable and inconsistent with the country’s legal tender regulations.
Speaking on a radio programme on Tuesday, Mr Opoku criticised what he described as the growing “dollarisation” of Ghana’s rental market, warning that the practice undermines national monetary policy and weakens confidence in the local currency.
According to him, Ghanaian law recognises the cedi as the country’s sole legal tender for domestic transactions, making the pricing of rent and related services in foreign currency unlawful.
He stressed that property owners and landlords must comply with the country’s financial regulations and avoid using foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar, in tenancy agreements and rental pricing.
Mr Opoku further disclosed that the Rent Control Department is strengthening collaboration with the Bank of Ghana to address the issue and intensify enforcement efforts.
He revealed that discussions had already been held with the Bank of Ghana’s Financial Markets Department as part of broader plans to clamp down on the pricing of goods and services in foreign currencies within the domestic economy.
According to him, sustained regulatory enforcement and coordinated action between institutions will be necessary to restore compliance and protect the integrity of Ghana’s financial and housing systems.
Mr Opoku warned that if the practice is left unchecked, it could distort the rental market and weaken the effectiveness of existing tenancy and pricing regulations.
The concerns come amid increasing complaints from tenants, particularly in major urban areas, where some landlords and real estate operators have reportedly demanded rent payments in dollars, especially for high-end residential properties.
The development has also reignited wider discussions about currency stability, housing affordability and regulatory enforcement within Ghana’s property sector.
