On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, during the first leg of his "Resetting Ghana Tour" in the Bono Region, President John Dramani Mahama sent a clear message to property owners: the era of demanding multi-year rent advances is over.
The President urged tenants to report any landlord demanding more than the legally mandated six months' rent advance to the newly decentralized Rent Courts, promising that his administration will hold such individuals strictly accountable.
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Enforcing the Rent Act
The President’s directive is part of a broader push to enforce the Rent Act of 1963 (Act 220), which has historically been widely ignored by the informal housing market:
The Legal Limit: Under Ghanaian law, it is illegal for a landlord to demand more than six months' rent in advance for a residential property.
The "Rent Court" System: As part of the "National Reset" agenda, the government has established specialized Rent Courts in all 16 regions to fast-track disputes and bypass the backlog of traditional circuit courts.
Direct Accountability: "If a landlord asks you for one year or two years advance, do not just complain in your room. Report them to the Rent Court," the President told a gathering of youth and workers in Sunyani.
Addressing the Housing Crisis
President Mahama framed the enforcement of rent laws as a necessary intervention to protect the dwindling disposable income of workers, especially in the wake of the global fuel and inflation shocks:
Protecting Workers: The President noted that many young graduates and civil servants are "pushed into debt" just to secure a place to sleep because of the "illegal" demands of some landlords.
Rent Assistance Scheme: He highlighted the ongoing National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), which provides low-interest loans to eligible workers to pay rent advances, but emphasized that the scheme works best when landlords follow the six-month rule.
Digitization of Rent Control: The Rent Control Department is currently undergoing a "Digital Reset" to allow tenants to file complaints and upload proof of illegal demands directly via a mobile app, which is expected to go live in May 2026.
"A Fair Deal for Both Sides"
While the warning was firm, the President also addressed landlords, acknowledging the high cost of building materials:
Incentives for Compliance: The government is considering tax rebates on property rates for landlords who formally register their tenancies and adhere to the six-month advance limit.
Investment in Social Housing: To reduce the pressure on the private market, the President confirmed that the "Big Push" infrastructure program includes the completion of 8,000 affordable housing units across the country by the end of 2026.
"We cannot have a country where the law says one thing and the people do another. We are resetting the system to ensure fairness for every Ghanaian tenant." — President John Dramani Mahama.
Read also: Mahama Launches "Resetting Ghana Tour" to Assess Development Projects
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