Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has identified Ghana’s 1.8 million unit housing deficit and rapid urbanisation as critical challenges requiring urgent action as the country accelerates implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Political Forum in New York, she said that the government is prioritising affordable housing, integrated urban planning, sustainable infrastructure and stronger urban governance to address the pressures of urbanisation.
She noted that up to 37 per cent of Ghana’s urban population live in informal settlements, making slum upgrading and affordable housing central to the country’s urban development strategy.
“Housing remains our most pressing challenge. Ghana faces a housing deficit of more than 1.8 million units while up to 37% of the urban population live in informal settlements,” she said.
Rita Naa Odoley Sowah indicated that the government will also strengthen urban financing and local government capacity, integrate climate resilience into infrastructure planning and improve urban data systems.
She called for increased and predictable international financing, direct access to climate finance for cities and stronger technical cooperation to support Ghana’s urban development ambitions.
“Ghana reaffirms its commitment to accelerating implementation. We will scale up affordable housing and slum upgrading, strengthen local government fiscal capacity, expand sustainable urban financing, integrate climate resilience into planning and infrastructure and enhance data systems and digital governance.
“These efforts will be pursued in partnership with our development partners, the private sector and local communities,” she said.
