The Managing Director of the State Housing Company (SHC), John Bawah, has expressed concern that a vast majority of houses built in Ghana are no longer “affordable” for the average Ghanaian. According to him, this is largely because developers often fail to consider the needs of end users when designing and constructing their buildings.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 6th Ghana Green Building Summit on April 10, 2025, Bawah emphasised the importance of thoughtful planning and community-centered design in addressing the country’s housing challenges.
“Affordability starts from the planning phase. If we plan projects with the end user in mind, it makes the whole process more effective.
“One of the things we’re changing at State Housing is our approach to projects. In the past, we would acquire land or be allocated land, then sit in our offices and decide to build three-bedroom, four-bedroom, or two-bedroom homes without considering who needs them. We’d start building and then try to sell. We’re changing that approach,” he said.
He explained that SHC is now shifting its focus toward identifying communities where there are real housing gaps, especially between the low-income and high-income brackets and designing solutions that reflect the specific needs and economic realities of those areas.
“We’re now exploring communities to understand what kinds of homes people are actually looking for, and most importantly, what they can afford,” he added. He also cited an example of an SHC project in Pokuase, which is specifically targeted at lower-middle to middle-income earners.
The homes being designed for that area, he said, are tailored to suit the financial capabilities of the community.
“In areas like Pokuase, we know the income range, so the buildings we design and produce there are specific to that environment. On the other hand, in places like Kanda or Ringway, where people have a higher purchasing power, we design products