Tenancy agreements in Ghana: what must be in yours

Tenancy agreements in Ghana: the checklist

A tenancy agreement should be boring. If yours involves handshake deals or a scribbled receipt, you're exposed. Here's what a proper Ghanaian residential tenancy agreement must include.

The mandatory sections

1. Parties

• Full legal name of landlord, address, phone number.
• Full legal name of tenant(s), Ghana Card number, employer or guarantor.
• If an agent signs on behalf of the landlord, include the agent's licence number and written authority.

2. Property

• Exact address including house number and community.
• Description (e.g. "2-bedroom self-contained apartment, ground floor").
• Inventory: furniture, appliances, fixtures that are included.
• Condition at handover, ideally with dated photos.

3. Term

• Start date and duration (e.g. "12 months commencing 1 March 2026").
• Whether the term auto-renews or requires explicit renewal.

4. Rent

• Amount per month, in GHS.
• Total amount paid upfront (remember: maximum 6 months under the Rent Act).
• Payment schedule for subsequent periods.
• Method of payment (MoMo number, bank account).

5. Deposit

• Security deposit amount (typically 1–2 months).
• Conditions for forfeiture and return.
• When it's returned at end of tenancy (within 30 days is standard).

6. Utilities

• Who pays: water, electricity, internet, DSTV, generator diesel, WASSA, waste collection.
• Meter readings at handover.

7. Maintenance & repairs

• Landlord: structural repairs, roof, plumbing fixtures, electrical backbone.
• Tenant: day-to-day upkeep, consumables, light bulbs, minor breakages.
• Notification period for repairs.

8. Restrictions

• Pets, subletting, commercial use, alterations.
• Noise hours.
• Number of permitted occupants.

9. Termination

• Notice period (30 days standard in Ghana).
• Grounds for eviction (non-payment, breach).
• Early termination penalties.

10. Signatures

• Both parties sign, with dates.
• Witness signatures (two is customary).
• Stamp duty: for tenancies over 3 years, stamp at the Lands Commission.

Red flags to watch for

• Auto-escalation above CPI. If the agreement says rent rises 20% annually, negotiate — consumer inflation is typically 10–15%.
• Unilateral landlord termination. The landlord can only evict with proper notice and grounds. Clauses giving them "sole discretion" are unenforceable.
• Waiver of Rent Act rights. You cannot contract out of statutory rights. Any such clause is void, but remove it from the agreement anyway.
• Vague utility allocations. "Tenant pays all utilities" without detail opens you to large "WASSA" bills for common areas.

Keep copies

Both parties keep original signed copies. If the agreement is more than 3 years or has a stamp-duty requirement, stamp it within one month of signing to avoid penalties.

On Habivista, we're working on a free downloadable tenancy template you can customise — check back in the help centre soon.