By Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, revealed that there are presently 10,720 housing units under development in the Greater Accra Region aimed at mitigating Ghana’s housing shortfall.
He shared this information while leading the Ministry’s staff to inspect construction progress at different sites on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Addressing journalists during the inspection, the Minister stressed the urgency of addressing the country’s housing challenge, citing a current urban population of 58 percent, an urbanization rate of 3.3 percent, and a housing deficit of 1.8 million units.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah provided details on the housing projects, highlighting initiatives in key areas including the Tema Development Company (TDC) Affordable housing enclave in Kpone, Community 22, Pokuase, Tessano, and Lartebiokorshie.
“More than 10,000 units of property are under development in various stages. Under the TDC Affordable Housing enclave, we’ve already done about 1,072 and we’re just about to start work on phase IV which is about 800. In Community 22 we’ve already done 300 heading to 400 and then they’re going to start the next phase which brings it to about 600.
“In Pokuase, there are about 8,000 though they’re behind schedule. In Tessano we’ve got about 320 that are almost completed and in Lartebiokorshie we’ve got about 100 units. So by the time all of it is completed, this should give us more than 10,000 units,” the Minister said.
The housing deficit has been a pressing issue in Ghana for many years. This lack of affordable housing has led to substandard living conditions among Ghanaians.
However, the Minister emphasized that the construction of these new housing units is part of a comprehensive government initiative aimed at increasing the housing stock and reducing rental prices.
He explained that the types of housing units being constructed vary, including single-family homes and subsidized 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units. This diversity is intended to address the varied needs and income levels of the population.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah highlighted that the Ministry is collaborating with private sector developers and stakeholders to accelerate construction and expedite the availability of these housing units in the market.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the government is exploring additional avenues to construct more affordable houses to bridge the existing 1.8 million deficit in housing.
