President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the continued abuse of Ghana’s rent advance regulations, noting that landlords are still demanding payments far beyond the legally permitted six months.

According to the President, the persistent violation of the law is largely due to weak enforcement, which has allowed unfair rental practices to thrive and placed an additional burden on thousands of prospective tenants across the country.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Green City Project at Dedesua in the Ashanti Region on May 9, 2026, President Mahama said many tenants, driven by urgent housing needs, are often unwilling to report landlords who flout the law because they fear losing the opportunity to secure accommodation.

Rent control 'chases' hostels charging outrageous fees

“We have a rent court that is supposed to prosecute cases where house owners take more than six months’ rent advance. Unfortunately, both the landlord and the prospective tenant are often unwilling to report such cases,” he said.

He explained that tenants are primarily focused on finding a place to live, while landlords are eager to obtain funds for other investments, making enforcement difficult.

“That has been the main problem in enforcing this law. The one who wants to rent needs a place to lay his head, and the landlord also wants money to invest in something. Our goal is simple: fairness, protection and dignity for tenants,” President Mahama stated.

The President also announced that the National Home Ownership Fund will continue to provide long-term financing support, especially for retirees, to help them secure decent housing after years of service to the nation.

He said the Green City Project is a timely intervention as the government steps up efforts to address Ghana’s housing deficit and expand access to affordable housing for citizens.

President Mahama noted that initiatives such as the Green City Project form part of the broader strategy to make home ownership more accessible while ensuring greater protection for renters in the housing market.

MA