Organizing Secretary of the University of Media, Arts and Communication, Daniel Kwame Zah Sefashi has bemoaned over the high cost of living in Ghana and the daunting challenges of rent affecting the youth.
Having had a fair share of the struggles in renting and its implications on the social and mental well-being of a Ghanaian, Mr. Zah Sefashi expresses hopelessness as he urges the youth to “avoid renting and live long”.
Speaking in another edition of e.tv Ghana’s Campus Dialogue on the topic, “Rent In Ghana – The Youth Perspective”, the student activist reiterated that affordable housing is difficult to come by in the country.
“If you’re a young man and you don’t want to die early you should stop renting. In Ghana if you want to have a very comfortable accommodation to stay in, then you literally have to kill yourself to get one. Aside that you have to either be living in communities prone to flooding and other vices or be managing yourself,” he said.
“Even though they come at cheaper rates, they are not comfortable to live in and come with its issues,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on behalf of the government of Ghana earlier this year launched the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS). The scheme is expected to provide rent loans to both formal and informal sector workers with verifiable and regular income.
The first phase of the scheme is set to be implemented with GH¢30 million provide to eligible Ghanaians with a mechanism to pay low monthly rent, which effectively removes the need for rent advance payment within five regions – Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Bono East and Northern.
