News
Housing shortfall driving rent advance exploitation – John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has attributed the growing issue of excessive rent advance payments in Ghana to the country’s housing deficit.
He made the remarks during a public engagement on housing and sanitation in Accra on Thursday March 19,2026, where he outlined challenges facing households and proposed solutions to improve access to affordable housing.
He explained that the shortage of housing has created a situation where private landlords take advantage of tenants by demanding more than the legally approved rent advance.
He noted that although the law limits rent advance to six months, both tenants and landlords often avoid the rent courts and settle such arrangements privately.
He added that tenants, in most cases, agree to pay up to two years’ rent in advance because they urgently need accommodation and fear losing available spaces.
According to him, the situation continues because of the gap between housing demand and supply.
He called for a national housing dialogue involving government, the private sector and organised labour to develop a social housing policy.
He stressed that such a policy would help provide affordable housing options for workers, either through mortgage schemes or rental arrangements at reasonable prices.
He also pointed to successful housing models in countries like Kenya, where large scale housing projects have been implemented for public sector workers.
He further explained that past mortgage systems in Ghana discouraged home ownership because they were tied to the US dollar, making repayment difficult due to currency fluctuations.
He said stability of the local currency is key to improving mortgage accessibility, adding that predictable depreciation would allow workers to plan and manage payments more effectively.
He urged stakeholders to work together to maintain a stable economy, noting that it would benefit both homeowners and prospective buyers.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
