Recently, the United Nations highlighted critical housing issues in Ghana, calling on the government to revise its housing policies. UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Koldo Casla, emphasized that the booming construction industry in Ghana fails to address the country’s housing crisis, suggesting a shift in focus towards affordable housing for the working class and an end to unlawful evictions.
During a 12-day visit to Ghana, Casla reported that the housing shortage in the country has reached a deficit of 1.8 million units. Despite a surge in commercial real estate, luxury properties remain vacant, and current policies continue to sideline affordable housing. Casla suggests that Ghana’s reliance on private developers has not met the needs of low-income populations. He urges the government to reassess its role and consider direct involvement in housing provision, as outlined in JURIST.
A study by UN Habitat indicates that the Greater Accra region faces a significant housing shortfall, mirroring research by the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, which points out that supply fails to meet growing demand. Furthermore, a policy brief from the London School of Economics and Political Science revealed that formal housing is primarily accessible to high-income buyers, pushing many city dwellers into informal settlements with insecure tenure.
Casla reports that about 31 percent of urban residents in Ghana live in these informal settlements, plagued by the threat of forced evictions. Areas like Old Fadama and Jamestown’s Peace Village have witnessed state-backed demolitions without proper consultation or compensation, violating international human rights norms. He emphasized the need for essential services such as water, sanitation, and electricity to be prioritized over evictions.
The advocacy for housing rights in Ghana is backed by international frameworks such as Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which obligates countries to ensure adequate housing. As Casla prepares to present his findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027, his call for a policy shift underscores a need to reconcile current strategies with human rights obligations.