By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Nov. 29, GNA-The Ministry of Works and Housing in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have launched a revised Ghana Housing Profile to enhance housing development and foster sustainable urbanization.
The revised Ghana Housing Profile is a comprehensive diagnostic tool that provides detailed analysis of housing supply, demand, affordability, and access.
Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of the Sector, in his keynote address said housing profile was not merely about physical structures but represented security, dignity, and a fundamental human right.
He explained that it was a cornerstone of socio-economic development and an indispensable component of national agenda for inclusive growth.
In 2011 following a release of the 2010 Population and Housing Census data, he said it had provided an invaluable opportunity to update the Profile.
“This highlights pressing issues such as housing deficit, urbanization pressures and the need for equitable housing distribution, for marginalized and vulnerable groups,” he added.
Mr Nkrumah noted that government was committed to tackling housing challenges and ensuring every citizen could access affordable, safe and sustainable shelter.
He disclosed that government had initiated and implemented policies to enhance housing affordability through innovative financing mechanisms, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector to scale up housing delivery and embracing technology driven solutions to reduce construction costs.
“Beyond affordability, housing agenda was guided by principles of sustainability and government has prioritized environmentally friendly and energy-efficient practices in housing development to contribute to Ghana’s greener and more resilient future,” the Minister added.
He said government was committed to fostering partnerships with local and international stakeholders, the private sector and civil society to harness resources, expertise and innovative solutions.
Ms Abena Ntori, Country Manager, UN-Habitat-Ghana, said the Housing Profile would show the way forward to impose reality check in the housing sector.
She said diligent implementation of recommendations in the profile would enable the country to witness an increase in housing supply at an affordable cost.
It would also augment the country’s much needed developmental benefits and employment creation.
“In order to fulfil the scale, cost and speed of supply required and to avoid the increases in the horizontal growth in our cities, focus must be switched to creating conditions that will favour the scaling up of housing supply both in quantity and diversity sizes, type and location,” she advised.
Ms Ntori said a critical address of the housing crisis was crucial as adequate housing was a human right, and housing inadequacy also caused other challenges like climate and humanitarian crisis.
The challenges facing the housing sector, she said were numerous and daunting, and no entity, public or private, governmental or non-governmental, academic or practitioner, could address them alone.
Mr Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator explained that the updated profile would give stakeholders a guide on the sector to re-assess approaches and housing investment decisions towards the right to adequate housing in the country.
“Investors and developmental partners could partner with governments, private sector and communities to assist in overcoming constraints, providing diverse financing mechanisms and instruments to enable multi-partnership arrangements,” he said.
He urged government to reshape policies, strategies and legislation for diverse housing solutions for all, while respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights for all especially in the cities.
GNA