Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, said on Tuesday [November 7, 2023] that 1,105 Ghanaian workers from six areas have benefitted from the government’s National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS).
The initiative was created to cover workers’ rent advances.
A total of GH¢13,785,597 has been distributed to beneficiaries in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, Ashanti, Northern, and Bono East regions.
The National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) was introduced in January 2023 as a reaction to the growing need for economic rental housing. The method aims to relieve homeowners of the burden of large rent advance payments for both formal and informal individuals with regular incomes. In turn, the plan receives monthly rent payments from the beneficiaries.
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While the National Rental Assistance Scheme has no explicit legislative basis, it is implemented as a government policy.
The Ministry of Works and Housing spent a total of GH¢900,000 on pre-implementation efforts and the scheme’s formal launch.
Regarding the ongoing legal actions over the Saglemi Housing Project, Mr Asenso-Boakye stated that he had taken legal advice to refrain from commenting on the topic until the court reached a decision.
“Mr Speaker I kindly request a deferral in addressing the question at hand as this may prejudge the outcome of the proceedings.
He stated, “I assure the House that I will be very happy to come back and provide a response when the court reaches a verdict on the case.”