Landlords Charging Up to GHC 12,000 Annually for Single Rooms as Economic Hardship Mounts
Residents of Damongo are raising alarm over what they describe as exorbitant rental charges imposed by landlords, with some property owners demanding as much as GHC 12,000 per year for single-room self-contained apartments.
The mounting housing crisis has prompted desperate pleas from residents who say the astronomical rents are far beyond their economic capacity, particularly given the town’s limited commercial activity.
Speaking to Spear FM, frustrated residents painted a grim picture of the local housing market. Multiple tenants reported annual charges of GHC 6,000 for basic single-room accommodations, while others faced even steeper demands.
One resident shared her recent house-hunting experience, revealing how a landlord quoted her GHC 1,000 monthly rent—translating to GHC 12,000 annually—for a single room with basic amenities.
“This is completely unreasonable,” said the resident, who requested anonymity. “How can someone charge GHC 1,000 a month for just one room in Damongo? That’s GHC 12,000 a year, which is simply too much for ordinary people like us.”
The residents’ complaints center on a fundamental disconnect between Damongo’s economic profile and the rental prices being imposed. Unlike major commercial hubs, Damongo lacks the bustling business environment that might justify such steep accommodation costs.
“Damongo is not a commercial town, so business doesn’t move here as it does in other towns,” explained another resident interviewed by Spear FM. “Yet landlords are charging us as if we’re living in Accra or Kumasi. Where do they expect us to get this kind of money?”
The economic argument resonates throughout the community, where many residents work in agriculture, small-scale trading, or government positions with modest salaries that cannot accommodate such rental demands.
Faced with an increasingly dire housing situation, residents are appealing to higher authorities for immediate intervention. Their calls for help are directed at both the Ministry of Housing and local leadership in Damongo.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Housing and the leadership of Damongo to step in and address this sky-rocketing house rent situation,” said community representatives. “Something must be done before ordinary people are completely priced out of decent housing.”
The residents argue that without regulatory intervention, many families may be forced into substandard accommodations or pushed out of the area entirely, potentially disrupting the community’s social fabric.
The situation in Damongo reflects broader housing affordability challenges across Ghana, where rapid urbanization and limited housing supply have created pressure on rental markets. However, residents argue their case is particularly acute given the mismatch between local earning capacity and housing costs.
As the community awaits response from authorities, many residents continue to struggle with housing insecurity, caught between unaffordable rents and limited alternatives.
The calls for intervention highlight the need for comprehensive housing policies that consider local economic conditions and protect residents from exploitative practices in the rental market.
This story is based on resident complaints reported to Spear FM regarding housing rental costs in Damongo. Efforts to reach landlords and local housing officials for comment are ongoing.
