Tension is rising at a Rented One-Storey building apartment in Koforidua, near Eastern Premier Hotel, after tenants accused their landlord, Professor Charles Adarkwa, of locking their only accessible water source following a dispute over escalating water bills.
According to the tenants, the monthly water bills previously ranged between GHC200 and GHC400. However, after the landlord reportedly hired an unqualified plumber to extend water supply to a newly rented apartment on the premises, the bill allegedly surged to as high as GHC5,000 per month due to what tenants describe as a hidden underground leakage.
The excessive bills led to the disconnection of water supply by Ghana Water Company Limited.
Although the tenants later mobilized resources to settle the arrears and restore service, they claim the unusually high charges continued while repeated complaints to the landlord about fixing the problem went unanswered.
Frustrated by the recurring bills, the tenants decided they could no longer continue paying for what they described as wasted water and instead began relying on a well on the property.
However, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the landlord allegedly directed some individuals to lock the well, denying the eight occupants access to water.
The action has sparked outrage among the tenants, who are now calling on the Rent Control Department to intervene.
The landlord, who reportedly resides in Germany and returns to Ghana once a year, has also been accused by several tenants of verbal abuse, threats of eviction, and intimidation.
One of the affected tenants, a journalist, says he was recently evicted after refusing to accept a 20 percent rent increase less than a year into his tenancy.
According to the journalist, he rented a two-bedroom apartment in Koforidua for GHC1,000 per month.
Five months later, the landlord allegedly informed him that the rent had been increased to GHC1,200 per month, in addition to a two-month security deposit of Ghc2,400 which was to take effect on April 1, 2026, after the expiration of his rent period.
The journalist objected, arguing that the increment was too steep and should only take effect after at least two years.
He claims the landlord became angry and threatened eviction if he refused to comply.
Two weeks ago, the landlord reportedly issued an eviction notice and warned that force would be used if the journalist did not vacate the premises by the stated deadline.
The journalist appealed for three months to secure alternative accommodation, citing difficulties in finding another rental space.
He further alleges that the landlord sent him an audio recording containing insults and threats, including a statement suggesting that if persuasion failed, force would be applied.
The journalist also noted that he invested nearly GHC5,000 in improving the apartment, including renovations, installation of burglar-proofing for safety, and electrical fittings.
The matter was eventually reported to the Rent Control Department, which, after adjudication, granted the journalist one month to vacate the property by the end of April.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
