Can my landlord evict me without a court order in Ghana?

Section 17(1) of the Rent Act says no order for recovery of possession of premises, or for ejectment of a tenant, can be made except on one of the grounds it lists. The order is made by the Rent Magistrate, who is the District Magistrate for the district where the premises are (section 36), or by another court. The grounds are:

• Rent lawfully due has not been paid or tendered within one month after it became due.
• The tenant has broken another obligation of the tenancy that is consistent with the Act.
• The tenant, or someone living with the tenant, has caused a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours.
• The tenant, or someone living with the tenant, has been convicted of using the premises for an immoral or illegal purpose.
• The premises have deteriorated because of waste, neglect or default by the tenant or someone living with the tenant.
• The tenant gave written notice to quit and, relying on it, the landlord has contracted to sell or let the premises or would otherwise be seriously prejudiced.
• The landlord reasonably needs the premises as a home for the landlord, a member of the landlord's family or a full-time employee, unless refusing the order would cause less hardship than granting it.
• The lease has expired and the landlord needs the premises for the landlord's own business, after giving at least six months' written notice.
• The lease has expired, the tenant is a statutory tenant and the landlord intends to demolish and rebuild, remodel or redevelop, after giving at least six months' written notice.
• The premises were let to the tenant because of a job with the landlord that has ended.
• The landlord let the premises furnished during an absence from Ghana or the area under a written lease that says so, and has returned to live there.

Doing anything, or failing to do something the tenancy requires, with intent to force a tenant to give up possession is an offence (section 27(1)). On conviction, the Magistrate can also order the person to compensate the tenant and can reinstate the tenant in the premises (section 27(2)). Ejecting a tenant for failing to pay more than the recoverable rent is also an offence (section 25(1)(g)).

• Keep your tenancy agreement, rent card, receipts and any notice you receive.
• Complain to the Rent Officer. The Rent Officer must investigate complaints by a tenant about any matter in the Rent Act (section 5(1)(b)) and can prosecute offences before the Rent Magistrate (section 5(1)(h)).
• If your landlord applies for an order, attend the hearing. Even when an order is made, the Magistrate or Judge can suspend it or postpone the date for possession, on conditions such as paying arrears of rent (section 17(3)).

• Unpaid rent becomes a ground for possession once it has not been paid or tendered within one month after it became lawfully due (section 17(1)(a)).
• For the business and rebuilding grounds, the landlord must give at least six months' written notice of the intention to apply for an order (section 17(1)(h) and (i)).
• A landlord may not serve a notice to quit within two years of an unappealed determination of the Rent Officer, or an order or decision of the Rent Magistrate or a court, about the premises, unless the lease is due to expire within those two years (section 23).
• After getting an order because the premises were needed as a home, for business, or on return from absence, the landlord may not let the premises to anyone else within two years without an order of the Rent Magistrate, except to the person named for a home (section 17(7)).