UN Expert Urges Ghana to Align Housing Development With Low-Income Needs

ACCRA — UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing Koldo Casla warned that housing policies in Ghana must be specifically targeted to support low-income working people, who make up the majority of the population. The statement was issued at the conclusion of his official visit to the country.

Casla acknowledged recent housing policies adopted by Ghana, as well as the country's diplomatic stance on reparations for historical injustices and its regional democratic stability. However, he raised concerns regarding the nature of ongoing property developments, particularly in the capital.

According to the Special Rapporteur, real estate development in Accra frequently targets high-end investments at price points far out of reach for average citizens. He observed that many of these properties remain vacant, suggesting that a significant portion of construction in affluent areas appears driven by financial speculation rather than the intent to fulfill the public's right to adequate housing.

Casla stated that the unaffordability of formal housing pushes many residents into substandard conditions or informal settlements. Approximately 31 percent of Ghana's urban population lives in informal settlements, and conservative estimates indicate that around 100,000 people are homeless, including an estimated 60,000 children.

The expert called on Ghanaian authorities to engage with low-income populations when designing public policies and insisted that forced evictions without prior consultation and appropriate compensation must cease.

With more than a third of the national population—and over 40 percent in urban areas—renting their homes, Casla advised the government to reinforce the Rent Control Department and related institutions. He emphasized the need to monitor and restrict rent increases and safeguard tenants against excessive advance rent demands.

Additionally, the Special Rapporteur highlighted the impact of climate change on housing, pointing to droughts in northern communities, flooding in the south, and rising temperatures in informal settlements. He urged authorities to enhance local government preparedness for climate-related disasters and called on the international community to provide support.

Casla is scheduled to present a comprehensive report on his findings to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.

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