Ghanaians Lament Over High Cost of Rent in Accra

Many Ghanaians are indeed upset about the high cost of rent in regional capitals of the country, particularly in Accra.

The lack of a proper regulation is also a concern for many, considering that in some non-prime areas in Accra, a chamber and hall self-contained accommodation facility goes for as high as Ghc800 in non-prime areas.

Although the law requires tenants to pay advance rent of up to 6 months, most landlords demand 2-years’ rent advance before tenants can occupy their property.

For most prospective tenants, dealing with housing agents is also another headache, as they feel exploited by them.

One tenant who spoke to Citi News said he earns Ghc1,800 a month, and spends 800 cedis on rent monthly.

“I pay about 800 cedis in a month and it is a chamber and hall self-contain, it is highly expensive and unsustainable. Landlords are more interested in having their own monopoly over the residences they provide,” he said.

Another tenant also complained about how rent in Accra, is outrageously expensive, stating that the same accommodation can be gotten for a much lesser amount in other parts of Ghana.

“If I am earning 560 and my rent is 250, and my transportation to work is about 600 cedis, that is not cool, rent in Accra sucks, because my mum lives in Koforidua and you can get the same apartment I am living in, over there for as low as 100 cedis,”she said.

Speaking on this phenomenon, the General Secretary of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Sammy Amegayibor, told Citi News the cost of accommodation will remain expensive if the government fails to implement deliberate policies in the area.

He noted that affordable housing is achievable in Ghana, but the private sector is not willing to provide anything affordable.

“If we don’t get the fundamentals right, we will continue to talk affordable housing, and we will not reach anywhere. Affordable housing is achievable, but under the current circumstances, the private sector is unable to provide it if we don’t get support and pragmatic intervention from the government. The private sector is not in any position to provide anything called affordable housing,” he said.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the leadership of John Mahama initiated a 5000 housing units project to provide affordable housing for Ghanaians in a bid to reduce the country’s housing deficit of about 1.7 million.

Before the NDC government left office, they were able to complete about 1,500 housing units at Ningo Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.

I’ll complete Mahama’s housing projects

The NPP government has promised not to abandon the state housing projects started under the Mahama government.

They say they will ensure the private sector is encouraged to help government bridge the housing gap in the country.