Ghana’s Housing Deficit Tops 1.8 Million Units
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Ghana’s housing crisis has intensified, with the country’s housing deficit now estimated at more than 1.8 million units, as rapid urbanisation, rising property prices and persistent affordability constraints continue to deny many low- and middle-income earners access to decent accommodation.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, disclosed this while addressing the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, warning that the widening gap between housing demand and supply poses serious risks to social stability, urban productivity and long-term development.
According to the minister, over 50 per cent of Ghana’s population currently resides in urban areas, a figure projected to rise beyond 72 per cent by 2050. This accelerating urban shift, driven largely by rural-to-urban migration in search of jobs and better livelihoods, has placed immense pressure on major cities such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, where housing supply has failed to keep pace with demand.
“Ghana continues to grapple with a substantial housing deficit, currently estimated at over 1.8 million units. This gap is further exacerbated by widespread affordability challenges, which prevent a large portion of the population, particularly low- and middle-income earners, from accessing safe, secure and dignified housing,” Mr. Adjei said
He noted that the imbalance has contributed to overcrowding, escalating rents, rising property prices and the rapid growth of informal settlements, particularly in peri-urban communities. These developments, he cautioned, strain urban infrastructure and deepen inequality, reinforcing the urgency for coordinated policies that address both housing supply and affordability.
In response, the minister said government is scaling up affordable housing delivery nationwide, while repositioning state-owned housing institutions as active developers rather than passive landholders.
Under this renewed push, TDC Ghana Limited is constructing 800 housing units at Tema Community 26 under the Borteyman–Orchard–Mataheko affordable housing project. Additionally, the company has commenced the Oxygen City Housing Project in Ho, a 1,000-unit development on approximately 1,000 acres, scheduled for completion by June 2027. Designed as a fully serviced community, the project will include schools, healthcare facilities, commercial centres and recreational spaces, marking TDC’s first major development outside the Tema enclave.
Significant progress has also been recorded on the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, which has moved closer to completion following the signing of head-of-terms and joint venture agreements currently under review by the Attorney General.
Meanwhile, projects by the State Housing Company at Amrahia and SHC Gardens are about 68 per cent and 70 per cent complete, respectively. The National Homeownership Fund has also completed 129 housing units at Tema Community 22, with an additional 50 units at Shai Hills expected to be delivered by mid-year.
To improve housing access beyond major cities, the ministry has rolled out a pilot Greenville District Housing Programme in eight districts, leveraging cost-efficient construction technologies to lower unit prices.
Rental affordability remains a parallel challenge. Mr. Adjei disclosed that the National Rental Assistance Scheme supported rent advances for 2,031 beneficiaries in 2025, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 4,732 since inception. The scheme boasts a recovery rate of about 99 per cent, with plans to expand it nationwide.
He added that proposed amendments to Ghana’s rent laws are progressing, aimed at modernising regulation, strengthening tenant protection and encouraging private sector investment in rental housing.
According to the minister, the combined interventions are expected to ease housing pressures, improve urban living conditions and support sustainable economic growth over the long term.
