_okun.ka

The perception of reality is more real than reality itself

[Samuello @bigmuello]

Benjamin Asare #byMuello 📸

[Pharaoh👳🏾‍♂️👑 @MrMekzy_]

The distance between your house and your job really affects your quality of life.

[𝐀𝐒𝐊 @askghmedia]

The moment Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare offered prayers of thanksgiving with his teammates after their win against Panama.🇬🇭

[Ewgi @Ssaasquatch]

Good morning. Monaco level of wealth isn’t going to come from your investment app. Go out there and build cool shit. It’s a Monday morning

[Andile Ncube @AndileNcube]

Yerrrr!!!!

It’s not just the finish…look at the entire build up

🔥 🔥 🔥

[Manchester City @ManCity]

Pep's Taxi: 10 years later! 🚖

Pep finally gets the chance to show Braydon where he kept all of those trophies... 🏆

[KAT @reallKAT]

I fell in love with this scripture:

“There will come a time when your tears will fall, not because of your troubles, but because God has answered your prayers.”

— 𝖧𝖠𝖡𝖠𝖪𝖪𝖴𝖪 𝟤:𝟥

[nana aba @thenanaaba]

The World Cup winners have already dropped their squad list.

[nana aba @thenanaaba]

As the Lord has done it for Arsenal after 22 years, so shall he do for you.

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

The Arsenal. Your Premier League champions.

[Bucci Franklin @buccifranklin]

Thank you ❤️

#amvca12

[😈 Xavier ✞ @RealXavier011]

This is the life we are fighting for everyday 🥺♥️

[Dr. Samuel Sesah @samuel_sesah]

6 years ago, a Rent Commisioner at Kumasi asked my team and I for money “bribe” before they stepped in to address an issue that is dear and disturbing to any parent and student. Hostel rents near Legon, KNUST, UCC, UG etc. have been rising faster than inflation and student incomes. It is refreshing to see the country’s Rent Commissioner doing this by himself.

The problem is structural, high demand, low supply, weak enforcement of the Rent Act, and no price transparency. That's the main reason why we looked at the Rent Control. A one-off price cap won’t fix it even if this approach works. You need a system that tackles supply, data, enforcement, and tenant protection together.

Here are my 5 cents on how the problem can be solved “once and for all” rather than him moving around and being disrespected.

1. Gather data on Hostel rents/Fix the transparency problem.

You can’t regulate what you don’t measure. Right now landlords raise prices in the dark.

Until 2017, university fees were always on the rise each year until student leaders called on the Parliament of Ghana, which got involved and decided on the fees for various institutions. Mind you, they faced hesitation from the university leadership at first but Parliament won.

I. Mandate digital registration of all student hostels within 2km of public tertiary institutions via Ghana Rent Control Department’s portal. Include location, room type, capacity, facilities, price, and lease terms.

ii. Launch a public “Student Hostel Price Dashboard”. Real-time, location-tagged prices so students can compare.

iii. Annual price increase reporting. Hostels must submit proposed increases 90 days before the academic year. Anything above CPI + 5% triggers automatic review as done for the School Fees.

This will create market pressure and evidence for enforcement.

2. Students are young, dispersed, and often uninformed.

i. University Student Housing Offices: Each public university must have an office that vets and accredits hostels, handles complaints, and publishes an approved list. No accreditation, then no university recommendation.

ii. Student Rent Mediation Units: Run by SRC + Rent Control.

iii. Financial literacy module: Compulsory for Level 100s during orientation. Covers leases, rights, scams. “I saw one video where a lady was justifying a 20k GHS rent because of AC and some frivolous excuses”.

THE WAY FORWARD
1. Increase Supply Through Targeted Incentives

Prices drop when supply catches up with demand.

2. Public-Private Partnership Hostels: Government provides land on university perimeters, tax holidays, and fast-track permits. Private developers build/manage under 25-year agreements with capped rents.

3. Convert underused public buildings: Turn old staff bungalows, Govt office spaces, GNPC, SSNIT properties into affordable student hostels.

4. Implement Tax relief for accredited hostels: 15% corporate tax reduction for hostels that keep rents more than 120% of the district median and meet safety standards. This should be a PRIORITY

5. Encourage purpose-built student accommodation: Amend building codes to allow high-density, low-cost near campuses. Speak with State Housing.

6. Strengthen and Enforce the Rent Act, 1963 Act 220. The law exists but is barely enforced through your taskforce.

7. Set up Student Rent Tribunals in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Tamale. Fast-track cases within 14 days. Staff with lawyers and student representatives.

8. Define “exorbitant” legally: Cap annual increases at CPI + 5% unless landlord invests ≥ 30% of annual rent in upgrades. Anything above requires Rent Control approval.

9. Sanctions with teeth. Fines of 10,000-50,000 GHS + suspension of hostel license for illegal evictions, unregistered hostels, or increases without notice.
#reducehostelprices #rentcontrol

[_okun.ka @okun_ka]

@OfficialSitso Multi channel change be what 🤣

[Netflix UK & Ireland @NetflixUK]

The Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua exchange in full... #FuryMakhmudov

[HOUSE PORN @HOUSEPORN___]

I can just imagine the look on the mom's face when she gets home 😂

[The Graced Olabisi @OlabisiZoey]

No throne without the cross
There’s no sacrifice without your blood
All these you did for me
No me without YOU🥹

[ᴅᴇʙꜱ✨ @Bigdebs222]

Min. Dunsin’s songs has a way of drawing you to a dwelling point, where you just want to bask in the presence😩