Ghana targets housing transformation through reforms, PPPs

The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has stated that Africa’s next phase of housing and urban development must prioritise affordability, liveability, and resilience, stressing that innovation must not come at the expense of identity.

Speaking at the inaugural Africa Real Estate Festival (AREF) 2026 in Accra on Saturday, April 18, 2026, he challenged stakeholders to rethink real estate beyond land and buildings.

“Real estate is about the spaces where people live, work, and connect. It influences safety, dignity, productivity, and social cohesion, while also reflecting our cultural identity. In essence, real estate is about place, not just property,” he said.

The two-day event, held from April 18 to 19, 2026, brought together state regulators, diaspora investors, and industry leaders under the theme “Innovation Meets Identity: Designing Africa’s Next Living Experience.”

It was organised by AREF in collaboration with Nilex Properties, Goldkey Properties, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC).

Adjei noted that in Ghana, the private sector delivers nearly 90% of housing, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.

“Government alone cannot close the housing gap. We therefore call on the private sector to scale up investment, adopt innovative delivery models, and align with national housing priorities,” he said.

He outlined a series of government policies and reforms aimed at transforming the housing sector. These include repositioning the National Affordable Housing Programme to support large-scale, mixed-income housing through public-private partnerships, and decentralising housing delivery through the District Housing Programme to ensure every district contributes to reducing the national housing deficit.

He added that the Rent Act is under review to improve fairness, strengthen tenant protection, and create a more stable rental market.

In partnership with the Lands Commission, the government is also advancing land administration reforms to improve land acquisition, strengthen title security, and reduce delays.

The Minister further announced plans to promote local building materials and green construction methods to reduce costs, support sustainability, and lower carbon emissions. In addition, innovative housing finance solutions are being developed with financial institutions to expand access to mortgages and long-term housing finance.

He stressed that the broader legal and institutional framework is being reviewed to reduce bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and support industry growth.

Earlier, AREF Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Desmond Kwesi Oteng, said key conversations about African real estate have for too long been held outside the continent.

He noted that hosting AREF in Africa signals an end to what he described as “narrative outsourcing,” and challenged participants with the question: “Who builds Africa?”

The Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) also emphasised the need for professionalism and transparency, reminding practitioners of the ban on cash transactions under the Real Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1027), aimed at reducing fraud and money laundering.

The festival further highlighted the role of the Rent Control Department in ensuring fairness between landlords and tenants to support sustainable communities.