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Stakeholders in the real estate sector are being urged to adopt innovative and inclusive solution
Rental prices in cities like Accra and Kumasi have surged by 20 to 30 per cent within the past year
China’s Property Market Shows Signs of Recovery Amid Policy Easing
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Stakeholders in the real estate sector are being urged to adopt innovative and inclusive solutions that safeguard the interests of both landlords and tenants to sustain Ghana’s housing market.
This call follows increasing concerns over the rising trend of rent hikes and the widespread practice of demanding one to two years’ rent in advance—measures described as unsustainable for many, particularly low- and middle-income earnersChief Executive Officer of the Richardson Group of Companies, John Andrew Richardson, noted that while landlords are entitled to protect their investments, the burden of high rent advances is taking a toll on tenants across urban areas.
Recent reports show that rental prices in cities like Accra and Kumasi have surged by 20 to 30 per cent within the past year, driven by inflation, increasing construction costs, and population growth. This trend, compounded by rent advances of up to two years, is compounding affordability challenges and pushing many families into financial distress.
In February, Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, raised similar concerns in Parliament, calling on the Rent Control Department to enforce regulations that limit rent advances to a maximum of six months. However, Richardson noted that such laws are frequently flouted because enforcement remains weak and sanctions are lacking.
He emphasised the role of stakeholders in reversing this trend through collaboration and reform.
Mr Richardson called for a united front between government, industry players, and the private sector to create fair and transparent policies that promote affordable housing and regulate rental practices.
Heidelberg Materials, in partnership with CBI Ghana Ltd, has successfully completed the construction of the world’s largest industrial-scale flash calciner for clay in Tema, Ghana. Now operational, the facility boasts an annual capacity exceeding 400,000 tonnes of calcined clay and has already begun delivering lower-clinker-content cement to customers.
This breakthrough is a strategic move in Heidelberg Materials’ global decarbonisation efforts, as calcined clay serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement clinker. Especially in West African nations like Ghana that lack abundant limestone deposits, calcined clay offers a viable solution to reduce reliance on clinker imports. The project, developed through a strong local partnership, has created over 300 jobs, underscoring both its economic and environmental impact.
Hakan Gurdal, Heidelberg Materials board member overseeing Africa-Mediterranean-Western Asia, described the project as a milestone in advancing low-emission cement production in West Africa. He emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging local resources while providing high-quality, innovative building materials.
According to Dr. Katharina Beumelburg, the company’s Chief Sustainability and New Technologies Officer, the use of calcined clay can reduce the carbon footprint of cement by up to 40 percent. She highlighted the project’s scalability and its role as a model for similar developments worldwide.
Calcination involves heating raw clay to temperatures between 650°C and 950°C. The process emits significantly less CO₂ than clinker production, making it a key technology for emissions reduction. This aligns with Ghana’s trajectory as a rapidly growing economy where cement demand is expected to double over the next 15 years, presenting a compelling case for sustainable, locally produced building materials.
China’s beleaguered housing market is showing tentative signs of recovery following a series of aggressive policy interventions by the central government aimed at stabilizing the sector. After years of a downturn marked by declining sales, falling prices, and widespread developer debt, April 2025 saw a modest uptick in new home sales in major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
The rebound comes on the back of measures introduced by the People’s Bank of China, including lower mortgage rates, reduced down payment requirements, and the easing of restrictions on second-home purchases. Additionally, local governments have been encouraged to acquire unsold housing stock to convert into affordable rental units, providing some relief to developers and boosting public housing supply.
Real estate giants such as Country Garden and China Vanke, which faced severe liquidity crises over the past two years, are also regaining investor confidence due to improved access to credit and a slight rebound in consumer demand.
Analysts caution, however, that the recovery remains fragile and uneven, with smaller cities still grappling with high inventory levels and weak demand. Nevertheless, the recent uptick offers cautious optimism that the world’s second-largest economy is slowly stabilizing one of its most critical sectors.
Source : African Property Magazine -Joycelyn Marigold
