Don’t admit foreign tenants without coronavirus test clearance – Minister tells landlords

It is mandatory for landlords to request for proof of negative COVID-19 test results from all potential tenants who are foreigners, Samuel Atta Akyea, Ghana's Works and Housing Minister has announced.

The new directive is part of the government's efforts in containing the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country, especially at the community level.

"Landlords must also be wary of potential tenants from foreign countries. It is very mandatory to insist that without a negative COVID-19 test clearance, the landlord should not rent out the premises" he said this afternoon at a press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information.

The Works and Housing minister cautioned landlords not to put their lives at risk by ignoring this directive just because of a few dollars they take from these tenants.

"We all know that this pandemic has been imported so be careful in the name of dollars, you don't bring in a foreigner who hasn't gotten a clearance that he has not been infected by the disease to come and live in your premises. I need not remind you that the virus is an importation from foreigners."

Ghana as of this afternoon has recorded 1,671 coronavirus cases with 11 deaths and 188 recoveries.

Meanwhile the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has entreated all property owners and landlords to report the arrival dates of Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian tenants who arrived in the country from March 3 to 23rd.

This, according to the GIS, is to enable the government effectively and efficiently identify such individuals through contact tracing for the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to assess and manage.

The new directive was contained in a press release signed by Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs and copied to GhanaWeb on April 1, 2020.

“The GIS can be reached through phone numbers: 0291502110, 0291502169, 0291502257 and 0291502253”, the statement announced.