The National Tenants’ Union of Ghana has demanded the immediate publication of the names of beneficiaries under the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), organized by regions and communities.

This request follows former Minister of Works and Housing Francis Asenso Boakye's announcement that 1,492 citizens received 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 expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of specific details regarding the beneficiaries in the report presented to the House.

To address this transparency gap, the Union is demanding the immediate publication of beneficiary names, organized by regions and communities.

They argue that this step will allow stakeholders to evaluate and contribute to shaping the policy for 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 enable a comprehensive review to address identified anomalies that could potentially hinder the scheme’s success.

Among the issues raised are the high 24% interest rate on the rent loan, non-refundable loan processing fees of GH¢100.00, and the duration for which rent advance payments are made to beneficiaries.