The National Tenants Union of Ghana has thrown its support behind the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2020 general election.

The Union’s decision follows a comparative analysis of the housing policies of both the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress in this year’s election.

“The Tenants’ Association is a non-political group, and we do not support a political party as a group,” the Union’s Secretary-General, Frederick Opoku said during a press conference on housing policies and 2020 manifesto pledges by both political parties.

He, however, added that Ghana's constitution allows the Union "to endorse, support, and promote party policies that seek to improve and make life better for the general good of tenants in Ghana".

It is for this reason that they have resolved to endorse the housing policies of the NPP for the 2020 election.

It further entreated its members and tenants to follow suit and "support to retain the NPP in power.”

According to Mr Opoku, the governing NPP’s manifesto pledge to establish a National Housing Authority and a National Housing Fund as required in the National Housing Policy is reassuring enough and gives the Union cogent reasons to believe that its housing policies and plans are realistic and achievable.

“As Tenants’ Union, we believe that if you do not have a Housing Authority separated from the Housing Ministry then it would be the same old stories, rhetoric and empty promises to excite and deceive,” he said.

“For us at NATUG housing issues constitutes an 85% probability of voting to elect a government to power. After all, sociologists would tell you that shelter or housing is a basic need and a necessity of life,” Mr. Opoku added.

Ghana’s national housing deficit has ballooned to an unimaginable figure in excess of 2 million housing units and it is required that in bridging the gap, the country has to supply a minimum of 200,000 housing units for a continuous period of 10 years and beyond.