Ghana to mark international tenants day

It is estimated that Ghana has an estimated housing deficit of more than two million, despite global recognition of the importance of housing to human welfare and survival.

Mr Alex Hayford, Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Tenancy, Culture and Housing Studies, who made this known in Accra, said with escalating prices of home purchase and availability of public housing declining, increasing numbers of people have no option but to remain in the private rental market for long periods of time, sometimes permanently.

In a statement to mark International Tenants’ Day slated for October 5, Mr Hayford said: “Adequate housing en compasses more than just the four walls of a room and a roof over one’s head.”

The 2015 International Tenants Day on the general theme: “Towards affordable Housing,” is to give the opportunity to improve the country’s housing deficits and addressing challenges faced by low income earning and poor tenants’ whose right to housing is violated.

It fulfills deep-seated psychological needs for privacy and personal space; physical needs for security and protection from inclement weather; and social needs for basic gathering points where important   relationships are forged and nurtured’ he said.

The statement said housing forms an indispensable part of ensuring human dignity and is essential for normal healthy living and also serves as an economic center where essential commercial activities are performed.

Source: GNA