Audio By Carbonatix
A lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University says inadequate data on Ghana’s housing rental system is likely to hamper the implementation of the NPP’s National Rental Assistance Scheme.
Dr Smart Sarpong speaking on Joy FM's Midday News Monday, explained that there is little to no information on buildings, landlords and rentable apartments and houses to support the scheme.
Landlords who will receive the monies loaned to tenants and their buildings are not properly registered and regulated, he added.
“I remember somewhere last year a section of some NABCO guys were asked to do this exercise, register residents, facilities, apartments and their landlords. We have not been told the outcome of that exercise,” he told anchor Emefa Apawu.
Dr Sarpong stated that many landlords have taken the opportunity to turn facilities meant for other projects to apartments leaving the cities unregulated.
“That is the core of the problem," he added.
Government has promised to set aside $100 million as a seed into a new National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), it intends to set up to address accommodation problem if it is voted in power come December 2020.
Speaking at the party’s 2020 manifesto launch in Cape Coast, the Vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said will serve as a loan allowance for payment of rents to bridge the gap between tenants and landlords.
“Under the National Rent Allowance Scheme, we will give you a loan to pay your rent allowance, not directly to you but the landlord and then we will deduct monthly as you will normally pay”.
However, Dr Sarpong believes that before the program works the government should begin the collection of data that has all landlords properly captured.
Reacting to the NPP's promise of a National Rental Assistance Scheme some people who spoke to JoyNews said they prefer the government enforce the implementation of the current Rent Control Act.
This act gives residents the opportunity to pay advance rent up to six months instead of two years many landlords have chosen to collect.
Others believe government can make existing affordable housing cheaper for people to use the loan to buy and pay monthly.
Latest Stories
-
GNFS dismisses reports of unpaid 2025 rent allowance
12 minutes -
Gordon Asare-Bediako steps down from NPP Communications Director race, backs Dennis Aboagye
18 minutes -
GES dismisses requirement for newly promoted teachers to submit documents for salary adjustments
24 minutes -
Meko Bono 2026: Vice President pledges agricultural revival as Atebubu hosts grand homecoming
1 hour -
Russian skydiver Sergey Boytcov sets world record with 11,551-metre stratosphere jump
2 hours -
Ablakwa-led committee submits five reports to Mahama ahead of 2027 AU chairmanship
2 hours -
Africa not seeking Western cash in reparations campaign – Ablakwa
2 hours -
Production decline, reserve depletion threaten Ghana’s upstream sector – Jinapor
2 hours -
Surveyors caution against treating compensation disputes as professional misconduct
2 hours -
Mahama calls for AU dialogue on migration after South Africa xenophobic tensions
2 hours -
I haven’t experienced any envy in the gospel music industry — Ohemaa Mercy
3 hours -
Prayer does not solve everything — Ohemaa Mercy
4 hours -
New PURC office symbolises stronger consumer protection – Dr Jinapor
4 hours -
Rev. Wengam re-elected Assemblies of God, Ghana General Superintendent
4 hours -
Less than 20km of clearing left to connect Accra-Kumasi Expressway to Kumasi – Agbodza
4 hours