Government plans to regulate hostels across Ghana as it prepares to submit amendments to the Rent Act and Rent Control Law.
The Ministry for Works and Housing is spearheading the reforms to modernize outdated legislation, remove regulatory bottlenecks, and encourage private sector investment in rental housing.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Minister Kenneth Gilbert Adjei said, “Recognizing the critical role of rental housing in national development, the Ministry has continued the review of the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220) and the Rent Control Law, 1986 (P.N.D.C.L 138).”
The proposed reforms will prioritize tenant protections, particularly for low- and middle-income earners, and formally regulate hostels to ensure safer and more orderly rental accommodations.
A national rent dialogue has already been conducted to validate and streamline the amendments before submission to Cabinet and Parliament for approval.
Mr. Adjei also highlighted the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), a government initiative established in 2023 to help qualifying Ghanaians access rental properties by providing rent advances.
The scheme, currently piloted in six regions, facilitated rent payments for 2,031 people in 2025, bringing total beneficiaries since inception to 4,732.
“I am glad to state that so far, the disbursement recovery rate is about 99%, indicating that the government’s seed money is fully recoverable and in circulation,” he said, adding that the program will soon expand nationwide.
The Ministry emphasized that these reforms form part of a broader effort to create a more efficient and equitable rental housing market while promoting sustainable urban development across the country.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
