John Awuni, Chairman of the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), is calling for a national conversation on Ghana’s rising rent costs, which he describes as arbitrary and unjustified.
Awuni voiced concern over the unregulated nature of rent increases across the country. He contrasted Ghana’s rental system with more structured practices in countries like the United States.
“Rent has to be a national discussion. Because here, it’s increased without reason,” he said. “In the US, landlords don’t just raise prices arbitrarily. If your rent is $200 monthly, you pay that amount for years unless there’s a legal basis to change it.”
Awuni criticised the widespread practice in Ghana where landlords often raise rent significantly once lease agreements expire, often without clear justification or accountability.
“You might rent a two-bedroom apartment for GHC 2,000, and once the lease is up, it suddenly jumps to GHC 3,000. There’s no explanation—just a take-it-or-leave-it approach. And if you decline, they’ll tell you someone else is ready to pay, often pointing to high demand from foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians,” he explained.
Awuni stressed that such unchecked increases are putting immense financial strain on Ghanaians and urged the government to step in with regulation or policy reforms.
“This must become a national conversation. Government needs to take notice and act,” he emphasized.
