Workers at Rent Control Department contribute to pay pre paid meters to work

Personnel at the Rent Control Department (RCD) on Tuesday said sometimes they had to contribute or borrow money to purchase power for their pre-paid meters before they could work efficiently and effectively.

They contended that since November last year up to date, they had spent more than GH¢1,500 on electricity.

The Department is one of the government institutions to be removed from the post paid meters since the issuance of a government directive to public institutions to use pre paid meters.

“As we speak now, we are afraid that the power will go off any moment. We have to contribute so that we can purchase GH¢40 worth of electricity credit on our prepaid meter before the arrival of the Sector Minister,” the workers said.

This was among concerns raised by the workers during a visit by Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing to the department in Accra to ascertain first hand information on problems facing them.

Other workers also noted that the department had no computers to work with and were using typewriters on proceedings and judgments for clients.

According to them, although secretaries at the department had been trained to use computers, they contended that, their training had not been of any use because they did not have a single computer to put their training into operation.

The department’s archive was nothing to write home about as some of their records were engulfed in cobwebs and dust.

With over 37,265 complaints recorded last year, the department managed to settle only 6,884.

Additionally, it had only four rent officers adjudicating on 30 cases daily.

The department’s premises was congested and clients, who lodged their complaints, had to stand or sit on pavements until their cases would be called.

In a response to the concerns, Mr Bagbin admonished them to use energy saving equipment to cut down spending.

He advised the personnel not to turn the department into a ‘gold mine’ and ensure they treated their clients with proper care because most of them were being “traumatised.”

Mr Bagbin said the Ministry would endeavour to ensure that some of their needs were catered for.

The department is tasked with the resolution of tenancy cases and their decisions are normally enforced or thrown out by the courts.

Source: GNA