President John Dramani Mahama has called on tenants to report landlords who demand rent advances beyond the legal limit, urging stricter enforcement to curb exploitation in Ghana’s housing sector.
Speaking at a dialogue with Organised Labour at Jubilee House on Tuesday, March 17, the President highlighted the mounting pressure of rising housing costs on households, which he said is making access to affordable accommodation increasingly challenging.
“Housing is a major problem, and for many households, it is consuming their income. We need a national housing dialogue to determine how the private sector, government, and labour can work together to develop a social housing policy that provides affordable options for workers, whether through mortgages or rental arrangements,” he said.
President Mahama attributed the practice of demanding excessive rent advances to the country’s housing deficit, noting that some landlords exploit the situation to impose unlawful charges.
“The reason private house owners are taking advantage is because of the housing deficit. The law allows no more than six months’ rent in advance, but many tenants and landlords are unwilling to go to the rent court,” he explained.
He urged tenants to take action by reporting such abuses, assuring that offenders would face sanctions.
“You can report such landlords to the rent court, and we will ensure they are held accountable,” he emphasised.
The President’s remarks come amid growing public concern over landlords demanding up to two years’ rent in advance—a practice widely criticised as both unlawful and exploitative.