Only 5% of Ghanaians Can Afford Housing Without State Support, Government Says

Government has disclosed that only about five per cent of Ghanaians can secure housing without assistance, with about 60 per cent requiring state-facilitated support to access decent housing. A further 30 per cent of Ghanaians remain unable to access housing even with government subsidies.

The disclosure was made by the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in a joint statement to commemorate World Habitat Day 2026, under the theme “Adequate Housing for All.” The two ministries attributed the housing challenge to high land prices, rising construction and infrastructure costs, and limited access to affordable housing finance. “These realities underscore the need for deliberate interventions to make housing more accessible and affordable to all,” the ministries stated.

Government said it is implementing the National Mortgage Scheme in partnership with the National Housing Fund and Republic Bank to expand access to homeownership. Under the scheme, mortgage financing is available at an interest rate of approximately 8.4 per cent per annum, with repayment periods of up to 20 years — an arrangement intended to give more Ghanaians, particularly those excluded from traditional mortgage markets, an opportunity to own decent homes.

The state is also pursuing the National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan 2026–2035 and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan 2026–2035 to address housing and urban development challenges.

The statement stressed that adequate housing goes beyond providing housing units and requires access to potable water, sanitation, roads, electricity, drainage and public spaces. “Government remains committed to expanding access to decent, affordable and sustainable housing throughout the country,” the ministries added.