National Dialogue Needed on “Unreasonable” Rent Hikes – FABAG Chair

John Awuni, Chairman of the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), has called for a nationwide discussion to address the escalating and, in his view, unjustified rent costs across the country.

Awuni voiced his concern over the arbitrary nature of rent increases in Ghana, contrasting it with more regulated systems in countries like the United States. “Rent has to be a national discussion. Because it is increased anyway for no reason. If you rent in the US, the US landlord does not just increase prices like that. In there, you pay your rent monthly, so if you are to pay $200, that is what you will be paying for so many years,” he explained.

Awuni criticized the prevalent local rental practices where landlords often impose significant rent increases at the end of lease agreements without providing any clear justification.

“In our case, it is different. You get a 2-bedroom for Ghc2,000, depending on the area. Once your rent expires, the landlord just increases it to Ghc3,000. On what basis does the landlord do that? If you say you don’t want it, you are ejected with the claim that somebody else wants to take it. And most especially, you get a lot of Nigerians in the country, and they are ready to take rent at any price, and they see that as an open market for the landlords,” he stated.

He emphasized that these unchecked rent increases are placing a significant financial strain on many Ghanaians and urged the government to step in and address the issue. “So, it must be a national conversation. The eyes of the government must come to that,” Awuni concluded.