Ghanaian minister asks landlords to check foreign potential tenants' Covid-19 status

If foreign potential tenants do not test negative for Covid-19, properties should not be leased to them, says a Ghanaian minister. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA)

If foreign potential tenants do not test negative for Covid-19, properties should not be leased to them, says a Ghanaian minister. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Apr 29, 2020

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0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">Cape Town – Ghanaian Minister of Works and

Housing Samuel Atta Akyea has asked landlords to check the Covid-19 status of foreigners before renting out property to them.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">According

to Citi Newroom (CNR), during a briefing with the media on Tuesday, the minister

stated this should be a mandatory procedure by landlords.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">Atta

Akyea stated that if foreign potential tenants did not test negative for Covid-19, properties should not be leased to

them.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">“Landlords must also be wary of potential tenants from

foreign countries. It is mandatory to insist that without a Covid-19-negative clearance the landlord should not rent out the premises.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">“We all know that this pandemic has been imported, so be careful

that in the name of dollars you do not go and bring in a foreigner who hasn’t

been given clearance that he or she is not infected by the disease to come and live

on the premises.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">“I need not remind you that the virus is an importation from

foreigners and those who had contact with them prior to the lockdown,” Atta

Akyea said.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">He said the government had the capacity to cover rent for those not

able to meet their financial obligations to their landlords; however, his

office had yet to hear of any evictions of tenants.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">“If someone should push that if people who have no place to live as

a direct result of the Covid-19 challenges should have their rent paid, we

should be able to absorb it. We have the financial space,” Atta Akyea said.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">The minister said that should it come to his attention that residents were being evicted because they could not pay their rent because of the Covid-19

pandemic, his office would look at the numbers and take it from there.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">“Let’s see if there are numbers. We shouldn’t just wave our

hands and say we should pay the rent of people who are suffering as a result of

the Covid-19 numbers, but if we see the numbers, we will see what we can do,”

Atta Akyea said.

0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">

color:#333333">African News Agency (ANA)

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