Mahama Cracks Down on Rent Exploitation, Urges Tenants to Report Illegal Advances

President John Dramani Mahama has directed tenants across Ghana to report landlords who demand rent advances beyond the legal limit, signalling a tougher stance against what he describes as growing exploitation in the housing sector.

Speaking at a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, March 17, the President expressed concern over the increasing cost of accommodation, warning that rent is taking a heavy toll on household incomes.

He stressed that enforcing existing rent laws is critical to protecting tenants, particularly as many landlords continue to demand advances far exceeding the legally permitted six months.

“Housing is a major problem, and for households, it is consuming their income,” President Mahama said, calling for a coordinated national housing dialogue involving government, the private sector, and labour unions to develop a sustainable social housing policy.

According to him, Ghana’s housing deficit is at the core of the problem, creating conditions that allow some property owners to impose unlawful rent charges on desperate tenants.

Despite the presence of legal frameworks and institutions such as the Rent Control Department, the President noted that both tenants and landlords often fail to seek redress through the appropriate channels, enabling the practice to persist.

“The reason why private house owners are taking advantage is because of the housing deficit. We have the rent court, and we say do not take more than six months of rent advance, but both the tenant and the landlord are not prepared to go to the rent court,” he explained.

He urged tenants to take action by reporting such violations, assuring that authorities would enforce the law and hold offending landlords accountable.

“You can report them to the rent court, and we will ensure they are dealt with,” he added.

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The President’s intervention comes amid mounting public frustration over landlords demanding up to two years’ rent advance—an issue widely criticised as illegal and exploitative.

He reiterated that beyond enforcement, Ghana must pursue long-term solutions through increased investment in affordable and social housing to ease pressure on renters and ensure fair access to accommodation.