Groom-to-be details how he was swindled of GH₵19,500 in fake apartment scam
A young Ghanaian man, Bright Ewusi, has fallen victim to a well-orchestrated rental scam that cost him GH₵19,500 money he had painstakingly saved to start a new life with his fiancée.
The heartbreaking incident, which took place earlier this year, highlights the growing threat of rental fraud in Ghana’s housing sector and serves as a stark warning to others navigating the country’s largely unregulated rental market.
Mr. Ewusi, who was preparing for marriage at the time, told journalists that he had been living in a single-room apartment but wanted something more suitable for himself and his soon-to-be wife. Like many others, he turned to the internet in search of an affordable two-bedroom apartment and soon came across a listing that seemed ideal.
“The agent told me the apartment was going for GH₵2,000 monthly, but agreed to a reduced price of GH₵1,500 after negotiations,” he recounted.
After inspecting the apartment located in what appeared to be an occupied, well-maintained storey building. Mr. Ewusi expressed interest and was informed that the landlord resided in North Kaneshie. He agreed to meet him there to make payment.
However, the meeting raised early red flags. “The man came out of his car in a rush, wearing a mask and holding a Bible. He insisted we talk inside his car because he claimed to be in a hurry,” Ewusi said.
Despite the unusual circumstances, he proceeded to pay GH₵18,000 as rent advance and an additional GH₵1,500 for air conditioners. A handwritten receipt was issued, with a promise that a tenancy agreement would be provided the following day.
That promise never materialized.
“Immediately after receiving the money, both the agent and the supposed landlord vanished. Their phones went off, and attempts to reach them failed,” he lamented.
Days later, when Mr. Ewusi returned to the so-called landlord’s residence, he was hit with the devastating truth — the building was not a private home, but a movie house.
Shocked and distraught, he filed a complaint at the Mile 7 Police Station, only to be told that similar complaints had been made earlier that same day by other victims an indication that the suspects were serial fraudsters.
With no swift action taken, Mr. Ewusi took matters into his own hands. Through social media, he shared his ordeal and photos of the culprits. Eventually, a tip-off from a Good Samaritan helped him identify and locate the agent. With the help of military personnel, he confronted the fraudster, who returned part of the money.
“I was able to recover half of the amount. At that point, I didn’t even want to fight anymore. The stress, the betrayal… it was too much that I even felt sorry for the man at some point” he said.
The emotional toll, however, has been far greater than the financial loss.
“For months, I couldn’t bring myself to go apartment hunting again. I had to let my wife handle everything. I still get anxious thinking about dealing with landlords or agents,” he added.
Mr. Ewusi’s experience underscores the urgent need for reforms in Ghana’s rental sector. With limited regulation, minimal verification processes, and weak enforcement, vulnerable individuals continue to fall prey to housing scams—many of whom never recover their losses.
Rent Control have long called for a national rental database, stricter licensing for agents, and better public education to combat rising rental fraud.
By: Evelyn Naadu Borquaye
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