John Dramani Mahama has called on tenants across Ghana to report landlords who demand excessive rent advances, stressing the need for stricter enforcement of housing regulations.
Speaking at a meeting with organised labour at Jubilee House on Tuesday, March 17, the President expressed concern over the growing burden of housing costs on households. He noted that accommodation expenses are increasingly consuming incomes and limiting access to decent living conditions.
Mahama highlighted that existing laws prohibit landlords from demanding more than six months’ rent in advance but said the rule is often ignored. According to him, both tenants and landlords frequently avoid the rent court system, allowing the practice to persist unchecked.
He urged renters to make use of legal channels by reporting violations, assuring that authorities would take action against offenders. The President emphasised that holding landlords accountable is key to protecting tenants from exploitation.
The call comes amid rising public concern over landlords demanding up to two years’ rent upfront, a practice widely criticised as unfair and financially crippling for low- and middle-income earners.
