Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has revealed plans for the Rent Control Department to undergo digitalization, encompassing all its operations, including client interactions for complaints and payment services.
According to Asenso-Boakye, the forthcoming system will facilitate the remote conduct of activities for tenants, landlords, and the Department alike.
“The Rent Control Department has its own portal to receive complaints from the two sides, both tenants and landlords instead of the usual paper work,” he noted.
During his inspection of the system’s progress in Accra on Tuesday, Asenso-Boakye emphasised the significance of rental housing in Ghana’s housing services. According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, rental accommodation constitutes 35% of urban housing in the country, underscoring its importance.
Asenso-Boakye highlighted that the government is currently reviewing the Rent Act, which is pending before Parliament, to address the evolving dynamics of the rental market.
He emphasised the importance of rental control as another crucial aspect of public service provision.
“We, therefore, want to digitise rent control to reduce human interactions. I have seen many people here who are in queues over rental issues.
“But with the digitization, they do not need to come here. They will just have to apply online,” he said.
Asenso-Boakye explained that, in addition to boosting service delivery, the development would aid in the fight against corruption.
“It will curb corruption because one will not need to come here and for instance, pay an officer to jump a queue to be served,” he added.
Asenso-Boakye announced that the portal is scheduled to go live in March 2024 following pilot testing, with full support from his ministry.
A spokesperson from the technical team mentioned that while the office would be dedicated to other essential tasks, the technology would enable users to list properties, market them, and establish connections between landlords and potential tenants.
“The system is a very user-friendly one and those that have tried it have attested to that,” the representative said.