The practice of concentrating affordable housing projects in major cities of the country has come under scrutiny, with critics arguing that it leaves out many Ghanaians living in smaller municipalities and districts.
The President of the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana, Anthony Klutse, voiced his concerns over what he described as an unfair distribution of affordable housing projects.
He criticized successive governments for focusing primarily on cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Tema, neglecting the needs of those in other parts of the country.
Mr. Klutse’s comments come in response to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) proposal, led by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to construct low-cost housing for low-income earners if elected in the upcoming presidential election.
The NPP’s plan also includes prioritizing social housing for the homeless and providing overnight shelters for the vulnerable.
While Klutse welcomed the NPP’s initiative, he emphasized that the implementation should ensure an even distribution of housing projects across all districts and municipalities in Ghana. “It’s regrettable that the government has concentrated these projects in cities like Accra, Tema, and Kumasi,” Klutse said in an interview with The High Street Journal.
“For these projects to truly benefit our communities and low-income earners, they must be spread across the entire country. Expecting low-income earners to afford houses in Accra is unrealistic. Every municipality and district needs access to low-cost housing because they contribute to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and deserve their fair share.”
Mr. Klutse also endorsed Dr. Bawumia’s plan to involve the private sector in affordable housing projects, stating that such collaboration would enhance the efficiency and success of the initiative.
“Collaboration is key. If the government is serious about achieving results, partnering with the private sector is the way forward,” he added.
However, Mr. Klutse pointed out the need for targeted government incentives to significantly reduce the prices of these so-called “affordable” houses, which have often been out of reach for the average Ghanaian.
Ghana’s housing deficit, according to the Revised National Affordable Housing Programme, stood at 1.8 million units as of 2023. Despite efforts by successive governments to bridge this gap, the high cost of affordable housing has remained a significant barrier, leaving many Ghanaians, particularly the vulnerable, facing severe accommodation challenges.
