Meeting Ghana’s housing needs: ‘(un)affordable’ public housing in a rapidly urbanising context

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation has created critical infrastructure challenges in African cities. Housing supply in many African cities lags demand, rendering many people homeless and increasing the size and number of squatter communities. This paper explores the desirability and affordability of public housing in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. Drawing on Foucault’s governmentality approach, we explore how neoliberal policies have affected the role of government in housing provision. Based on a mixed-methods approach, triangulating surveys, and key informant interviews, the paper reveals, first, a strong desire for public housing among the populace primarily due to the inability of the private sector to meet the housing needs of middle to low-income people. Second, we also show how public housing, which is highly desired, nonetheless remains inaccessible due to politicisation and unaffordability.

Meeting Ghana’s housing needs: ‘(un)affordable’ public housing in a rapidly urbanising context