Mr. Frederick Opoku, the General Secretary of the National Tenants Union of Ghana (NATUG), has criticized the Akufo Addo led government for its incapability to build more affordable houses to solve the issue of accommodation in the country.

The secretary disclosed that the Tenants Union of Ghana is in disagreement with the government and is ready to resist the government’s attempt to sell the Saglemi Housing Project to private investors.

This comes after The Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, announced Government’s decision to explore the possibility of selling the Saglemi Housing Project, covering the 1,506 housing units, at the current value to a private sector entity to complete and sell at no further cost to the State.

Mr Opoku opined that the government is more capable of raising the funds needed to complete the project than relying on a single individual to complete the building single-handedly.

“Is it not also a cause of their negligence as a government to complete Saglemi and give it for people to rent? government cannot get 46 million to fix drainage to put the light in order but rather give it to a private individual who must go and search for 46 million, come, finish it and selll it how much he wants to sell it.”
Mr Opoku

According to the secretary “we are about to petition cabinet, they should stop the ministry, stop the government from entering into Saglemi, and give it to a private individual so that at least we can still finish with it.”

National Rental Assistance Scheme

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Fredrick Opoku described the National Rental Assistance Scheme initiative as ‘Lazy Jerk’ approach to solving the problem of rent in the country, explaining that granting rent loans to people is only solving the problem partially.

“Now we are here talking about rent advance, giving loans instead of government getting to building houses. For me it is somehow a lazy jerk appraoch and simple way of solving problems. However, though we agree the scheme is good, we think that they should build more and that is the panacea not giving loans to people. It is partly going to solve the problem but not exhaustive.”
Mr. Opoku

The government of Ghana launched the National Rental Assistance scheme on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the Accra International Conference Centre to facilitate accessibility and affordability in rental housing to eligible Ghanaians.

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who launched the scheme revealed that the government has set aside GH¢30 million as seed money towards the implementation of the scheme. He said the scheme would be rolled out initially in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Northern and Bono East regions.

Dr Bawumia also made known the scheme would enable Ghanaians with identifiable and regular income to apply, and when approved, the rent would be paid directly to their landlords, who would also be required to register with the scheme.

According to him, unlike previous policies which are often marred by defaulters, the National Rental Assistance Scheme is in collaboration with private investors who would not want their investments to go down the drain and will use any means possible to retrieve their funds which will also eliminate any form of political interference. He also disclosed that the government through the Ministry of Works and Housing has submitted a bill to Parliament seeking to replace the current rent law which was passed over five decades ago and has lost its relevance.

The scheme has received over 600 applications since the launch on Tuesday.