President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the growing burden of housing costs on Ghanaians, calling for a national conversation to address the issue.
Speaking at a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House on March 17, the President noted that accommodation expenses continue to take up a significant portion of household incomes.
Push for a Social Housing Policy
President Mahama stressed the need for collaboration between government, the private sector, and labour unions to develop a sustainable housing solution.
“Housing is a major problem, and for households, it is consuming their income. We need to have a national housing dialogue… to come up with a social housing policy to make sure that we provide affordable housing for workers.”
He suggested that such a policy should enable workers to:
–Purchase homes through mortgages
–Access rental housing at affordable rates
Blame on Housing Deficit
The President attributed rising rent costs to a shortage of available housing, which he says is being exploited by some landlords.
“The reason why the private house owners are taking advantage is because of the deficit in housing,” he explained.
Enforcement Challenges
He also pointed to weak enforcement of existing rent regulations, noting that although the Rent Control Department exists to address such issues, many tenants and landlords are reluctant to seek redress through the system.
“We have the rent court… but the one who is renting, and the house owner are both not prepared to go to the rent court.”
The President encouraged tenants to report violations, assuring that authorities would take action where necessary.
A Growing National Concern
The call for a national housing dialogue signals increasing government attention on housing affordability, a challenge affecting many urban and peri-urban communities across Ghana.
