The government says it has plans to protect tenants against profiteering landlords. 

According to the government, that is the aim behind the yet to be laid Rent Bill. 

This was disclosed by the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye. 

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, November 13, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the current rent law has outlived its relevance. 

In his view, a law that has gone past 50 years, cannot be useful due to the current population growth and urbanization. 

“As I have mentioned in recent times, the existing law was passed by Parliament fifty-nine years ago, and therefore, its relevance has been outlived by the current population growth and urbanization, housing availability, rental rates, housing redistribution and eviction controls, amongst several other attendant difficulties, that have engulfed the housing sector.

“The review is intended to safeguard the rights of vulnerable tenants who have been out priced by the uncontrollable hikes in the cost of renting accommodation", he said. 

The Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Bantama also revealed that the new bill will criminalise any landlord who demands more than one month rent in a monthly tenancy and or more than a year in a yearly tenancy. 

The MP also said the bill follows an extensive engagements with the relevant stakeholders. 

He thus urged the citizenry to make their inputs into same through their MPs. 

“After some extensive engagements on the draft Rent Bill, 2022, Cabinet at its last meeting held on 27th October, 2022, gave approval for the draft Rent Bill, 2022 and recommended same for the consideration of Parliament. It is expected that soon, Parliament will also commence its engagements on the Bill to culminate, hopefully, in its successful enactment.

“I want to take this opportunity to implore on all well-meaning Ghanaians to take particular interest in these engagements and contribute to its adoption. 

“This can be done by sending your views and expectations to your respective Members of Parliament, as the House is about to consider the draft Bill,” he concluded.