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Housing shortfall driving rent advance exploitation – John Dramani Mahama
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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
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has clarified that former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana and is still wanted under a valid arrest warrant issued by the High Court in Accra.
In a public notice, the OSP said it had taken note of a transcript of a hearing from a United States immigration court that has been circulated by some media organisations.
According to the office, the document has been interpreted by some to suggest that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not been credibly charged or linked to any wrongdoing in Ghana.
The OSP rejected that interpretation, explaining that it is not involved in Mr. Ofori-Atta’s immigration proceedings in the United States.
It said its involvement relates only to extradition proceedings, which are being handled through Ghana’s Attorney-General as the country’s central authority.
According to the OSP, the extradition documents are not before the US immigration court and the court has no authority to determine whether the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta are credible.
“The credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta is a matter for determination by the courts in Ghana,” the OSP stated.
The office explained that there are three separate legal proceedings involving the former minister.
These include the immigration proceedings in the United States concerning his immigration status, extradition proceedings to determine whether he should be returned to Ghana, and the criminal case before the High Court in Accra involving corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP reiterated that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains before the High Court in Accra as an accused person and that a valid warrant has been issued for his arrest.
It maintained that he remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana and is required to appear before the High Court to answer the charges against him.
The Special Prosecutor also stressed that the criminal proceedings in Ghana would continue in accordance with the law and the directives of the High Court, whether or not Mr. Ofori-Atta is physically present in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Telecel Ghana has announced that it has resolved the intermittent challenges that affected its voice and data services.
In a message to customers, the telecommunications company announced that its network services had been fully restored after experiencing temporary disruptions.
“We are pleased to inform you that intermittent challenges with our voice and data services have been resolved,” the company said.
Telecel apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the service interruptions and thanked them for their patience during the period.
“We appreciate your patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the company added.
The company assured customers of its commitment to providing reliable communication services under its slogan, “Connecting Energies.”
By: Jacob Aggrey
