The Rent Control Department has disclosed that 230 people have received approvals and payments have been issued to their landlords under the recently inaugurated National Rental Assistance Scheme.

Emmanuel Kporsu, Public Relations Officer of Rent Control, stated that the payments ranged from GHC1000 to GHC2000.

He was responding to a series of queries about the scheme’s development since it was launched in January of this year.

He went on to say that over 2,680 people have logged into the scheme’s website.

"As I speak to you, 230 people have gotten rent assistance from the scheme. Rent was paid directly to their landlords. Several of the figures just wanted to confirm that the system was truly operational. We had 1,210 people visit the site to see if it was working. We have also approved 182 people to receive rent payments."

He also revealed that 230 additional applicants had not finished their applications.

“Some 330 applicants had yet to complete their applications,” he said.

He stated that these categories of candidates had yet to submit their documentation.

He stated that 746 applications were being reviewed for genuineness.

“So, when we add all of these data together, including those who received funds, those who were validated, and those who were processing their applications, we get 2698.

He has also denied suggestions that the initiative is a fraud and has urged individuals who qualified to enroll.

“This is not a scam.” It is authentic. “I encourage people who qualify to register, and if they are verified, their rent will be paid,” he said emphatically.

Background

The Ghanaian government introduced the National Rental Assistance Scheme in January of this year as part of its efforts to provide decent housing for Ghanaians.

Under the scheme, Ghanaians over the age of 18 with a valid national ID card and verifiable job with an income are eligible for a rent loan in five to ten working days.

Total rent is paid to the applicant’s potential landlord, and the applicant makes a monthly payment to the National Rental Assistance Scheme.

The scheme is expected to be implemented throughout the country, although it will be piloted in five regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, and Bono East.

Applicants are expected to be evicted from the house or room if they default on the monthly payment arrangement.