The National Tenants’ Union of Ghana (NATUG) has condemned what it describes as the exploitation of tenants through unaffordable rent charges across the country.
Speaking on Denkyiraman Radio’s political show National Agenda, the Union’s General Secretary, Frederick Opoku, said the soaring cost of rent has left many Ghanaians especially young people, low-income earners, and recent graduates struggling to secure decent accommodation.
He argued that prevailing practices such as landlords demanding two to three years’ rent advance are exploitative and a major source of financial hardship.
“It is an injustice that ordinary Ghanaians are compelled to pay exorbitant rents in advance, while wages and salaries remain stagnant. Housing is a necessity, not a privilege, and we must put an end to these exploitative practices,” Mr. Opoku stressed.
NATUG is calling on government to strengthen enforcement of the Rent Act of 1963 (Act 220), which prohibits landlords from demanding more than six months’ rent advance. The Union also urged the Ministry of Works and Housing to expedite proposed Rent Control Board reforms and accelerate the development of affordable housing schemes for workers and vulnerable groups.
Mr. Opoku emphasized that addressing Ghana’s rent crisis is not only an economic matter but also one of social justice and human dignity. He further pledged that the Union will intensify advocacy campaigns until meaningful reforms are implemented to protect tenants from exploitation.
