Ghana’s Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has outlined the country’s commitment to sustainable urban development and housing reform at the African Ministerial Roundtable Meeting held during the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The meeting, which brought together African housing and urban development ministers, followed the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration at the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2), which restated the continent’s collective commitment toward “affordable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development.”
Speaking at the session, the minister highlighted Ghana’s policy direction on urbanisation, reiterating the country’s focus on housing and urban development as key drivers of “economic growth, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and improved livelihoods.” He indicated that Ghana remains committed to aligning national urban policy with broader continental development priorities under Agenda 2063.
The discussions at the roundtable centred on practical mechanisms for translating continental frameworks into actionable programmes, with emphasis on financing, institutional coordination, and long-term urban planning strategies across African cities.
Adjei further expressed Ghana’s commitment to implementing Pillar 4 of the Nairobi Declaration, which focuses on strengthening resilient and sustainable human settlements, describing it as central to improving urban systems through “inclusive urbanisation pathways” and enhanced policy coherence across member states.
He also pledged Ghana’s continued collaboration with African governments, development partners, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the delivery of “practical and measurable outcomes” in the urban development sector, in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063.
The World Urban Forum engagement is expected to deepen continental dialogue on housing deficits, urban resilience, and infrastructure financing, as African countries seek to balance rapid urban growth with sustainability and social equity considerations.
