Ghanaian actor and politician, John Dumelo, has outlined his plans for when he assumes the role of a Member of Parliament.
Currently running for the MP position in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, Dumelo shared on his Twitter handle on January 1st that he intends to address the issue of exorbitant rent charges.
Expressing his concern, Dumelo highlighted that Ghanaians are supposed to pay a maximum of 6 months’ rent for residential properties.
However, he pointed out that many landlords demand an upfront two-year rent advance before leasing properties. If elected, John Dumelo has pledged to prioritize addressing this issue as one of his initial actions in office.
“The first thing I will champion when I become a member of parliament is the rent issue. Ghanaians must pay a maximum 6-month rent advance for residential properties,” he posted.
The Rent Control Department of Ghana has cautioned landlords against demanding more than six months’ rent in advance from their tenants, saying this is against the law and can lead to prosecution.
The department’s PRO, Emmanuel Kporsu, in an interview earlier in the year that tenants can voluntarily pay more than six months’ rent in advance if they wish, but landlords cannot force them to do so.
The department’s statement was made in the context of the housing challenges and the demand for affordable and social housing in the country.