By The National Tenants’ Union of Ghana is demanding the prompt release of the names of beneficiaries under the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), categorized by regions and communities.
This demand follows the statement by the former Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye, indicating that 1,492 citizens were recipients of a total disbursement of GH₵19 million through the NRAS.
Launched on January 31, 2023, by the Ministry of Works and Housing, the NRAS aimed to alleviate issues related to rent advance payments in Ghana.
However, the National Tenants’ Union of Ghana, in a statement on Tuesday, March 12, expressed dissatisfaction with the report’s lack of specific details regarding the beneficiaries, as presented to the House.
In order to bridge this transparency gap, the Union is urging for the prompt release of the names of beneficiaries, categorized by regions and communities. They contend that this measure will empower stakeholders to assess and contribute to shaping the policy, ensuring more effective implementation and impact.
Additionally, the Union is urging the Ministry of Housing to initiate a stakeholder engagement process and temporarily suspend the NRAS.
This pause would allow for a comprehensive review to address identified anomalies that could potentially hinder the scheme’s success.
Some of the concerns raised include the steep 24% interest rate on the rent loan, non-refundable loan processing fees amounting to GHC 100.00, and the duration for which rent advance payments are provided to beneficiaries.
