Ghana
Rapid population growth and increasing urbanization have made shelter one of the most critical problems facing Ghana. Increasing overcrowding, declining quality, and lack of access to services characterize much of the housing stock in the country, especially in urban areas.
The housing needs of urban inhabitants are often restricted to substandard structures and unsanitary environments in squatter and slum settlements.
The market for land in Ghana is highly unorganized. Information about who owns what piece of land is not readily available and the legal and administrative systems for transferring titles are cumbersome. These features have serious repercussions on housing supply. Currently, property transactions are slow and costly, and financial institutions are unwilling to extend credit to property holders without clear title.
Forced evictions and threats of forced eviction are very common in Ghana. This is especially true for the poor and marginalised.
In October 2009, authorities in Ghana’s capital, Accra, destroyed structures belonging to hundreds of people along the railway and in a slum known as “Abuja” - depriving families of their homes and livelihoods. According to local residents, they were not consulted about the evictions or demolitions, and were not given any compensation of adequate alternative housing.
Thousands of others living in Accra are also facing forced eviction, sometimes from communities in which they have lived for more than 30 years.
Related Documents
Executive summary
December 01 2008
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