The government has disclosed that only about five per cent of Ghanaians can secure housing without assistance, with about 60 percent requiring state-facilitated support to access decent housing.

The disclosure was made by the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in a joint statement to commemorate World Habitat Day 2026, under the theme, “Adequate Housing for All.”

The two ministries indicated that another 30 per cent of Ghanaians remain unable to access housing even with government subsidies.

They attributed the housing challenge to high land prices, rising construction and infrastructure costs, and limited access to affordable housing finance.

“These realities underscore the need for deliberate interventions to make housing more accessible and affordable to all,” the ministries stated.

Government is implementing the National Mortgage Scheme in partnership with the National Housing Fund and Republic Bank to expand access to homeownership.

Under the scheme, mortgage financing is available at an interest rate of approximately 8.4 percent annually, with repayment periods of up to 20 years.

The initiative is expected to widen access to homeownership, particularly for Ghanaians who do not qualify for conventional mortgage facilities.

As part of efforts to tackle housing and urban development challenges, the Government is also implementing the National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan 2026–2035 and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan 2026–2035.

The ministries said addressing the housing deficit should not focus only on constructing houses but also on providing essential services and infrastructure, including potable water, sanitation, roads, electricity, drainage and public spaces.

“Government remains committed to expanding access to decent, affordable and sustainable housing throughout the country,” the ministries added.