””’On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia launched the National Rental Assistance Scheme to assist low-income earners in obtaining decent rented housing in the country.’On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia launched the National Rental Assistance Scheme to assist low-income earners in obtaining decent rented housing in the country.
In its initial phase, the program will begin in six regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Western, Eastern, and Bono East.
It will eventually be extended to the entire nation.
In its 2020 manifesto, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to provide youth in Ghana with a short-term rent advance to alleviate the issue of high rent and lengthy rent advances.
If its mandate were to be extended in 2020, the NPP also promised to set aside seed money for a brand-new National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) to address housing issues.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, Akufo-Addo’s government’s commitment to this promise has been questioned by many Ghanaians more than two years into its second term.
At the launch, Vice President Dr. Bawumia urged the Ministry of Works and Housing, the program’s implementing ministry, to fulfill its oversight responsibilities and ensure the program’s success.
The Vice President claims that important initiatives like the digital address system and mobile money interoperability, both of which were implemented during the government’s first term as part of the drive for digital transformation, are yielding results.
He stated that these initiatives have served as the foundation for brand-new programs like the National Rental Assistance Scheme, which went live on January 31.
Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, announced a GH30 million seed funding for the. He said that the first six regions were looked at because there were more problems with rent advances.
The Scheme Manager, Richard Acheampong, stated that the procedure can be completed by even a fifth-grader due to its simplicity.
However, he stated that each application would be evaluated for affordability before approval.
Frederick Opoku, Secretary of the National Tenants Union, urged the government to eliminate favoritism in the application process during his speech at the event.
Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), urged the authorities to consider single mothers when developing the policy.
He stated that the launch is timely because it will provide many employees with significant relief.
According to the amended Ghana Rent Act of 1963, a landlord can only ask for a six-month deposit from a tenant. Landlords will be encouraged to continue charging the two-year advance rent, which is against the Rent Act, by this national rental assistance program.
.” The government presents the rental assistance program as a means of assisting tenants who are having trouble paying the advance rentItit is a scheme that runs the risk of enforcing a social norm that causes division.
