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The government is determined to make green building practices central to national development policies.
This is intended to highlight the nation’s environmental and climate change efforts given that green buildings have environmental, cost efficiency and health benefits.
The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, addressing the sixth Ghana Green Building Summit in Accra, stressed that the government was actively integrating green building principles into the national housing strategies and programmes.
He highlighted the District Housing Programme as a key initiative, aimed at delivering sustainable, affordable homes in rural and peri-urban areas using environmentally responsible, locally sourced materials.
While acknowledging that “affordability” was relative, he emphasised the need for green finance to unlock scale and accessibility.
The event brought together more than 300 stakeholders from government, development institutions, academia, the private sector and civil society to deliberate on the critical role of sustainable buildings in shaping Ghana’s future.
On the theme: “Reimagining Buildings and Cities for Economic and Social Prosperity”, the summit provided a platform for dialogue, innovation and collaboration.
It reinforced the idea that sustainability remains fundamental to longevity, resilience and inclusion.
The Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Issifu Seidu, outlined Ghana’s broader climate response strategy.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Technical Director at the ministry, Cedric Dzelu, he cited alarming World Bank projections that climate-induced economic losses could triple by 2050, with over 30 million Ghanaians potentially exposed to extreme heat.
“Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already impacting livelihoods, infrastructure, food security and the very sustainability of our cities,” he said.
The Convenor of the summit, Cyril Nii Ayitey Tetteh, stressed the importance of sustainability, saying “Sustainability is all about continuity.
This happens when we embed sustainability into business, adopt processes with ESG frameworks and practise sustainable banking principles.”
Green Buildings Lead, Ghana, Paul Kwesi Ocran, underscored the affordability of sustainable design and stressed that green homes should not be limited to high-rise luxury developments.
“We should not always look at green buildings as three-storey buildings or the iconic 10-storey towers. Your home can also be green,” he said.
The Managing Director of the State Housing Company Limited (SHCL), John Sheriff Bawah, reinforced the need to redefine affordability in Ghana’s housing sector.
Mr Bawah commended the summit for bridging technical expertise with youth innovation.
