Housing Trends and Market Dynamics in Ghana: Third Quarter 2025″
Data on vacant housing in Ghana underscores the urgent need for balanced housing policies, affordable housing initiatives
China Introduces New Measures to Stabilize Struggling Property Market
Data on vacant housing in Ghana underscores the urgent need for balanced housing policies, affordable housing initiatives, and sustainable urban planning. These measures are vital to ensure the optimal use of available housing stock and to address the mismatch between housing supply and demand.Nationally, the percentage of vacant dwelling units stands at 12.7 percent. Of these, 51.1 percent are located in urban areas, while 48.9 percent are in rural areas. The higher proportion of vacant homes in urban areas reflects the effects of rapid urbanization, increased real estate development, and housing costs that may be unaffordable for many residents.
Ghana’s real estate market in the third quarter of 2025 reflected a mixed performance shaped by macroeconomic adjustments, shifting demand patterns, and ongoing infrastructure developments.
The period was marked by cautious optimism as stakeholders navigated the effects of recent fiscal reforms, interest rate dynamics, and evolving consumer preferences.
Residential real estate remained active, driven largely by continued urbanization and the expanding middle class. However, high construction costs and limited access to affordable financing continued to challenge developers and homebuyers alike.
Demand remained strong for gated communities, especially in Accra, Kumasi, and emerging urban corridors like Takoradi and Tamale. At the same time, there was a growing emphasis on rental units, co-living spaces, and smart housing solutions, particularly among young professionals.
Commercial real estate showed signs of recovery, with renewed interest in retail and office spaces. The rise of mixed-use developments and flexible workspaces gained momentum as businesses adjusted to post-pandemic work models. Key areas like Airport City, Ridge, and East Legon continued to attract interest from both local and international investors, although vacancy rates remained high in some older commercial zones.
The industrial and logistics segment experienced steady growth, supported by increased demand for warehousing and distribution hubs. This was particularly evident along major transport corridors such as the Tema-Akosombo road, aided by Ghana’s role as a regional trade hub under the AfCFTA framework.Overall, while the third quarter of 2025 presented opportunities for strategic investment and innovation, the market called for deeper government-private sector collaboration to address persistent challenges such as land tenure complexities, regulatory delays, and the urgent need for scalable affordable housing solutions.
Ghana is intensifying its nationwide digital transformation efforts. In December 2024, the government initiated a review of its ICT policy in education to modernise the system and address current sector challenges.As part of this broader agenda, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, visited the Lands Commission on April 8, where he highlighted the urgent need to digitise land resource management. The $165 million initiative aims to reform a largely manual system that has been described as slow, complex, and vulnerable to inefficiencies.Currently, an estimated 90 percent of the Commission’s operations are manual, affecting processes such as surveying, mapping, and land documentation. The digitisation drive is expected to streamline these activities, reduce paperwork, improve land accessibility, and enhance revenue mobilisation.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting the project, emphasising that responsible digital transformation of land administration systems can bring significant benefits. These include revitalising land markets, increasing government revenue from land transactions, and driving innovation-led economic growth. It is also expected to promote greater transparency and equity, reducing opportunities for corruption.This land digitisation initiative aligns with Ghana’s wider strategy to use digital technologies as a catalyst for economic development, improved public services, and inclusive access to digital infrastructure. Similar digitalisation projects are being rolled out in other key sectors to support this national objective.
China has recently introduced new measures to stabilise its struggling property market, marking one of the most significant interventions in years. The government announced in early April 2025 that it would ease restrictions on home purchases in major cities and offer financial support to local governments and state-owned enterprises to acquire unsold homes.
This move is part of a broader effort to reduce the housing inventory glut and revive confidence in the sector, which has been under pressure from slowing demand and the debt crisis facing major developers.
Analysts see this policy shift as a signal that Beijing is ready to step up support to prevent a deeper economic slowdown tied to the property sector.
Source : Joycelyn Marigold – Africa Home Building News
