How Can Parliamentarians Give Themselves Two Years Rent Advance And Expect Landlords To Change?

A legal practitioner, Peter Okudzeto has rebutted the comments by the Minister in charge of Finance and Allied Institutions at the Presidency, Fifi Kwetey, that there should be a massive attitudinal change in the nation.

Hon. Fifi Kwetey said this in relation to the conflicts that arise between landowners and tenants regarding the payment of rent.

He called for a public outcry to end the exploitative tendencies of the landowners and the entire citizenry.

He was very critical of the culture where Ghanaians take advantage of the least opportunity to exploit and extort money from people, particularly the underprivileged in society.

But according to Lawyer Peter Okudzeto, the reformation should begin from Parliament and not the citizenry.

He said, during an interview on Radio Gold’s newspaper review, that the legislators should lead by example by ensuring that they do not pay rent in advance so as to resolve the rent issues in the country.

He believed if the Parliamentarians take up the challenge to lead the crusade, the reformation can be achieved and affect the grass roots.

“I have a problem with both Parliament and I have a problem with landlords too. I think that the reforming deal must start from Parliament,” he said.

According to him, “the noise must not be against just landlords. It must also be against Parliamentarians. It must be a two-tier noise against both Parliamentarians and landlords. We should not limit to just landlords.

“The Rent Act says that you cannot even collect more than six months advance, yet, Parliamentarians sat in Parliament and gave themselves two years rent advance. Are they not sending a very bad signal to the rest of the Ghanaian populace? I believe that if you want to be a reformer, the reformation must begin with you.”

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana