John Dramani Mahama Cracks Down on Illegal Rent Practices, Urges Tenants to Report Exploitative Landlords

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning to landlords who flout rent regulations, calling on tenants to report any demands for rent advances that exceed the legal limit.

Speaking at a high-level engagement with Organised Labour at Jubilee House on Tuesday, March 17, the President highlighted the growing housing crisis and its severe impact on household incomes across the country.

He stressed that the rising cost of accommodation is placing unsustainable pressure on citizens, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated national response. According to him, Ghana must initiate a comprehensive housing dialogue involving government, the private sector, and labour unions to develop a robust social housing framework.

“Housing is a major problem, and for households, it is consuming their income,” he stated, advocating for affordable solutions through structured mortgage systems and fair rental arrangements.

President Mahama pointed to the country’s housing deficit as a key driver behind the increasing trend of landlords demanding excessive rent advances—often far beyond what the law permits. He noted that while existing regulations cap rent advances at six months, enforcement remains weak, partly due to reluctance from both tenants and landlords to seek redress through the rent court.

“The reason private house owners are taking advantage is because of the housing deficit,” he explained, adding that legal mechanisms are already in place but underutilized.

The President urged tenants to take a firm stand against unlawful practices by reporting offending landlords to the appropriate authorities, including the rent court, assuring that strict action would be taken against violators.

His remarks come at a time of heightened public concern over widespread reports of landlords demanding up to two years’ rent in advance—a practice widely condemned as both illegal and exploitative, further deepening the country’s housing affordability crisis.