LOUSY TENANCY AND MAINTENANCE IMPLICATIONS

“Ano a wϽde bϽ bosea no, ɛnnyɛ ɛno ara na wϽde tua”. The Akan proverb which literary translates, one does not settle a debt with the same mouth with which one borrowed, aptly captures human tendency to renege on promises, especially, when they are no longer affected by crisis. If I were to reword the proverb to suit current tenancy situation in Ghana, I would caution home owners: “ahopere a wϽde hwehwɛ dan no, ɛnye ɛno ara na wϽde tena efie mu”, literary meaning residents do not maintain house with the same readiness with which they seek tenancy, therefore pick your tenants cautiously! In other words, the old adage, “charity begins at home”, is simply not applicable to most domestic spaces in the country.

Ghanaians have developed a deplorable attitude to cleanliness; many simply refuse to practice healthy lifestyles. Both literates and illiterates are guilty of creating and living in dirty surroundings. Even the basic acts of sweeping, dusting and scrubbing their own homes have become chores so much that many simply neglect such healthy activities under the pretext of busy schedules. The reality, however, is that preventive maintenance is a lost concept on bad tenants; they simply cannot be bothered. Consequently, when a lousy tenant vacates an abode, the owner must renovate at a huge cost before the premise can be rented out again. Unfortunately, many Ghanaian tenants have condescended to such appalling behaviour leaving most houses unsightly. Whereas in some communities houses gain value with time, in Ghana, they lose value over time due to poor or lack of maintenance.

Lousy tenancy might account for the ridiculous rent advance payment demanded by some home owners, so they do not lose out when they have to renovate regularly. Conversely, some tenants may fail to practice preventive maintenance due to high rent charges. Whatever the reason, lousy tenants should realize that living in filth compromises their health. Additionally, cleanliness is a habit that must be cultivated. Considering that the average Ghanaian is usually a tenant—in a private or government house--for a considerable period before s/he becomes a home owner, if a tenant refuses to practice preventive maintenance, by the time s/he becomes a home owner, s/he  and the children might be too old to cultivate that habit. That explains the apparent inability of Ghanaians to practice preventive home maintenance. “If you fail to do it unto others, you would not be able to do it unto yourself”. my mother always advised when I was a child.

In effect, lousy tenancy, which results from laziness, is a self-destructive habit; may that knowledge galvanize all Ghanaian into action. Laziness could only yield filth and poverty. Counter that with enthusiasm for work and proper time management, and the diligent terminates sluggishness and undignified living conditions! Practising preventive maintenance in domestic and public spaces could only yield a win-win situation for individuals, community and nation. May we all be responsible citizens, change our attitude and clean up our waste!