The Ministry of Works and Housing says processes have begun to set up a National Housing Authority (NHA) to lead the supply side of the housing market.

Available research continues to highlight housing as the key to the development of any economy, as it provides core security to families, societies, and communities while promoting sustainable health and livelihood.

“It is evident that the legislative and institutional framework of every sector plays a key role in establishing the platform for good practices. The current institutional framework governing the housing sector is fragmented and inconsistently funded. This government recognizes this huge challenge and has pledged to critically look at the general institutional architecture that drives the housing sector,” said the Deputy Minister for Works and Housing, Abdulai Abanga, at the Launch of the Graphic Group Housing Fair in Accra.

Currently, it is estimated that 60 percent of Ghana’s population will need some form of government assistance to support them to access housing, while 35 percent will not be able to access housing even with government support in terms of subsidy.

To bridge the current institutional gap, the Deputy Minister added that setting up a housing authority will help provide mass subsidized housing for 60 percent of the population in the short to medium term.

“For this reason, processes have begun to set up a National Housing Authority (NHA) to lead the supply-side of the housing market. The National Housing Authority will not only serve as a regulator in the sector but also plan, develop, and manage housing development in Ghana. As a Ministry, we have resolved to lead the process to engage key stakeholders within the sector to set up the NHA and also find ingenious ways of creating the enabling environment, especially for the private sector.”

The absence of sustainable interventions in the past has resulted in the country struggling with a housing deficit currently estimated to be 2 million housing units.