PPP housing plan could create 500,000 jobs – Real estate developer pushes bold proposal
The Government of Ghana has been urged to adopt structured public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a sustainable solution to addressing the country’s growing housing deficit.
The call was made by real estate developer and impact investor, Lord Ibrahim Sani, who emphasised that closing the housing gap requires joint efforts between the state and credible private sector actors.
Speaking at separate stakeholder engagements in Accra and the United Kingdom, Lord Sani, who is also the Group CEO of Sani Properties, described the housing challenge as a “silent national emergency” that demands urgent and coordinated responses.
“No single institution can solve this crisis alone. The government must create space for innovative private developers who are ready to deliver cost-effective and sustainable homes at scale,” he said.
Hurdles
He noted that while the government has, over the years, initiated various housing schemes, many have failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, limited funding, political interference, and a lack of continuity.
Citing the stalled Saglemi Housing Project as an example, Lord Sani argued that housing delivery in Ghana needs to move beyond politics and focus on results. He urged policymakers to work with developers who can deploy rapid, affordable housing technologies backed by inclusive financing models.
Framework
Sani called for the establishment of a national PPP housing framework to streamline collaboration between key institutions such as the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Lands Commission, district assemblies, financial institutions, and private developers.
He also urged the government to allocate land banks to credible developers through transparent processes and accelerate the digitisation of land records to reduce bottlenecks in land acquisition and titling.
“Land litigation, multiple sales, and land guard issues continue to deter investment in the housing sector,” he said. “We must de-risk the environment if we want serious capital to flow in.”
Security
Beyond infrastructure, Lord Sani highlighted housing as a matter of social equity and national security. He stated that overcrowding, high rents, and slum proliferation in urban and peri-urban areas could escalate if immediate action is not taken.
“A national housing strategy built on PPPs can generate over 500,000 jobs and stimulate local industries from cement and roofing to plumbing and design,” he noted. “It’s not just about homes. It’s about dignity, jobs, and stability.”
In view of this, Sani Properties, through its new housing model, is piloting eco-friendly modular homes starting at GH¢143,800 (about US$13,800), with delivery timelines under nine weeks. The company has also introduced a rent-to-own scheme that allows tenants to acquire property over time using monthly rental payments, without an initial deposit.