In a keynote address at the 15th Ghana Property Awards held in Accra, the Acting Registrar of the Architects Registration Council (ARC), Josephine Essie M. Kpesese, shed light on the formidable challenges impeding Ghana’s ability to resolve its housing crisis. Ms. Kpesese emphasized six key factors:
Land Tenure System
The convoluted and unclear land tenure system poses a substantial obstacle to housing development in Ghana.
Land Cost and Accessibility
High land costs coupled with limited accessibility exacerbate the overarching challenge of providing affordable housing for the populace.
Lack of Access to Credit
Limited access to credit inhibits individuals from securing the necessary financing for housing projects, restricting home ownership opportunities.
High Cost of Building Materials
The elevated costs associated with building materials further escalate the overall expense of constructing houses, making affordability a distant goal for many Ghanaians.
Lack of Adherence to Standards
Non-compliance with construction standards jeopardizes the quality of housing, compromising safety and durability.
Lack of Effective Regulatory and Monitoring Mechanisms
Inadequate regulatory and monitoring mechanisms create loopholes that may lead to substandard practices within the housing sector.
Ms. Kpesese asserted that these challenges have a direct impact on the cost of housing, rendering it unattainable for a significant portion of the Ghanaian population. Urging stakeholders to regulate the sector, she emphasized the need to ensure that the benefits of housing interventions extend across all regions of the country.
She also stressed the importance of prioritizing the needs of vulnerable groups in the formulation of housing policies.
The theme of the event, “Housing Policy, Regulation, and Evaluation Impact on Delivery,” was highlighted by Ms. Kpesese as particularly relevant. She drew attention to the pressing issues of rapid population growth and increased urbanization, framing housing as a critical challenge facing the nation.
To address these challenges, Ms. Kpesese called for close partnerships among various sectors, including private and public entities, and local communities. Collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the establishment of a convergence platform among real estate professionals were encouraged to facilitate national discussions and consensus in the design and implementation of effective housing policies.
Expressing gratitude to the event organizers for their continuous efforts in addressing the housing gap, Ms. Kpesese expressed hope that the lessons drawn from the discussions would lead to tangible results in resolving Ghana’s housing crisis.
She underscored the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to tackle the multifaceted challenges in the housing sector and achieve sustainable solutions for Ghana’s housing crisis.