Ghana’s housing shortage has risen beyond 1.8 million units, raising concerns about access to decent accommodation, particularly for low- and middle-income earners.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, says affordability remains one of the biggest barriers preventing many Ghanaians from owning or renting safe homes, even as demand continues to grow in major urban centres.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, the minister described the situation as worrying, noting that rapid urbanisation is stretching the country’s housing stock beyond capacity.
“More than half of Ghana’s population currently lives in urban areas, a figure projected to exceed 72 percent by 2050. This trend is sharply increasing pressure on cities such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi,” he said.
Mr. Adjei explained that housing supply has failed to keep up with population growth, resulting in overcrowding, escalating property prices, and the expansion of informal settlements.
“The demand for housing in our major cities keeps rising, but supply has not kept pace. This has created serious affordability and access challenges for ordinary Ghanaians,” he added.
The minister noted that the government is pursuing coordinated interventions to address both the availability and cost of housing, focusing on sustainable urban planning and private sector participation.
He stressed that tackling the housing deficit is critical to improving living conditions and supporting Ghana’s long-term development agenda.
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