Some inhabitants of Cape Coast in the Central Region have welcomed the National Rental Assistance Scheme, NRAS describing it as a relief for Ghanaians.
They are however asking the government to ensure the scheme is not in any way abused as they believe with time, the likelihood of service of “whom you know” will be the order with the vulnerable sidelined.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced a novel rental support programme, the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), on January 31, 2023, to provide low-interest loans for eligible low-income earners.
The scheme is expected to reduce the burden of vulnerable groups having to fork out money as advance rent payments and will be implemented in partnership with the private sector.
Rent advance loans will be paid directly into the bank accounts of landlords registered with the Scheme. Government plans to spend GH¢30million to implement the Scheme.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, launching the NRAS, explained that it will initially take off in some five regions before being rolled out nationwide. The regions include the Greater Accra, Western, Ashanti, and Bono East Regions.
But the residents in Cape Coast are also calling for the programme to be extended to the Central Region for them to also benefit from the scheme.
Most residents who spoke to ATLFMNEWS were of the view that with NRAS, the issue of landlords making tenants’ lives unbearable with exorbitant rent advance payments and increases without prior notice will be a thing of the past.
One said “I remember two years ago, I was posted in Accra to do a particular job. And I had to look for an apartment to stay in for the job and because of all these issues with rent, I couldn’t get an apartment. I had to go from Kasoa to Accra, which was causing a lot of financial issues for me in terms of transportation and feeding. So, I believe the new scheme is going to help avoid a lot of issues among people looking for a place to rent.”
Another also said, “the scheme is really going to help us because if I see I can’t bear the two or three years advance payment, I’ll just have to go a place where they take the rent monthly or even in six months.”
According to them, the scheme is going to be a checker on landlords and also help Ghanaians who are struggling with rent issues.
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Source: Enock Chanimbe/ATLFMNEWS
