The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, has called on Members of Parliament to support the amendment of the Rent Act, and expedite the passage of the new Rent Bill, when laid in the House.
He said this on the floor of Parliament, when he was making a statement on the occasion of the World Habitat Day.
He briefed the House on his Ministry’s determination to ensure that a new Rent Bill will be validated and all the anomalies of the existing Rent Act removed, to promote a balance between the needs of tenants and landlords.
The Minister indicated that when passed into Law, the new Rent Act will ensure that rights of vulnerable tenants are safeguarded, and also, real estate developers are not discouraged from investing in rental housing.
Mr. Atta Akyea also said that the Draft Ghana Building Code, which was put together by the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) in 1988, has been reviewed by the Ministry and its stakeholders and is ready for adoption.
He revealed that the Ministry is in the process of amending the Building Regulations (LI 1630) of 1996, to reflect the revised Building Code. He noted that ‘the building everywhere and anyhow mentality’ cannot continue with the passage and enforcement of the law.
