The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) says governments have done little to address the growing housing deficit in Ghana.
It contends that adequate steps have not been taken by the appropriate authorities to resolve challenges associated with accommodation in the country.
Ghana’s housing deficit remains the same, as against the increasing population of the country, which currently stands at 30.8 million.
According to data from the just-ended 2021 population and housing census, one out of every five of the structures listed was not fully completed.
Out of the 10.7 million structures listed, 20 percent were metal containers, kiosks, and wooden structures, some of which serve as homes to people.
In a Citi Business News interview on the sidelines of the Graphic Real Estate and Housing Revolution at the National Theatre in Accra, the Executive Secretary for GREDA, Sammy Amegayibor, noted the problem of affordable housing was compounding hence government has to immediately find a solution.
“If it comes to housing supply, there are some people that irrespective of what you do under the circumstance, they will need support and that is why we call it social housing. Unfortunately, we don’t have any social housing arrangements in Ghana. That is why this thing [the housing deficit] keeps coming up. So it is time we work towards that. Affordable housing has been a difficulty, but it’s not difficult to do. It is just that we have not taken our time to look at the issues and taken steps to address them, and so the issues keep compounding.”
The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, further reiterated the government’s plans in solving the housing problem in the country.
“The Ministry is developing a sustainable framework that focuses on the overall ecosystem of housing delivery, geared toward improving the housing situation in the country.”
“The objective is to address both the supply and demand sides of the housing markets by increasing the output of housing units at an affordable rate and developing a credible and sustainable mortgage market for all Ghanaians. The strategy adopted is to provide incentive packages to create a very conducive atmosphere for affordable housing delivery,” he explained.
The Graphic Real Estate and Housing Revolution, which is a three-day event, is scheduled to give potential homeowners the opportunity to choose from a range of housing options that best suit their budget and need, as financiers introduce their housing-finance products and services and take participants through the process of acquiring a house.
CBN
