The Management of the Rent Control Department has refuted social media reports that its Amasaman office has been locked for non-payment of rent.
The news that the Amasaman Rent Control Department was under lock and key for being indebted to Joseph Abugri went viral on Saturday evening.
According to the report, Joseph Abugri, a landlord at Amasaman, Greater Accra Region, had thrown out the area’s Rent Control Department from his property for defaulting in paying rent.
The government’s institution, the report said, was indebted to Mr Abugri for five months, after the department had paid for the first two years.
Mr Abugri was quoted as telling newsmen that: “Our subsequent agreement was that they will make monthly payments after the two years advance had expired. But after the two years expired, they have not been able to pay me my monthly rent as we both had agreed.
“When I reported the matter to the head office of Rent Control Department at the Ministry of Works and Housing, I was redirected to officially report to the same office that owes me.”
The publication said the action by the head office of the Rent Control Department left Mr Abugri with the last resort, which was to lock up the office while he sought legal means to collect his money.
The said landlord was reported as saying that even if the department paid the arrears, he would not rent his space to them anymore, adding that “they can look elsewhere.”
However, the Rent Control Department’s Chief Rent Manager, Twum Ampofo in a press release same Saturday, rubbished the social media reports.
Not only did Mr Ampofo state that no such action had been effected at its Amasaman office but also denied ever renting a facility from anybody by the name Joseph Nsiah Abugri.
Part of the release read: “It is obvious that the deliberate circulation of these rumours are intended to paint the department in a negative light.”
Below is the press release:
By: Umar Sheriff Musah