Ghana suffers over urbanization, not housing deficit - Stephen Asiedu

Contrary to the oft repeated claim that Ghana has about 1.7 million housing deficits, the Chief Executive Officer of Cleverlines, Mr. Stephen Asiedu says the challenge really is that of over urbanisation.

He believes the increasing rate at which people move to urban centres is the cause of the inadequate housing facilities in the major cities.

Speaking on an entrepreneurship programme dubbed “Starter Pack” on Peace FM, Mr. Asiedu said if Ghanaians were to create their own businesses rather than moving to urban centres for jobs that do not exist, the pressure on Ghana’s housing sector will reduce.

“It is untrue we have a housing gap of 1.7 million. The problem is people leave houses they have built in their villages and have come to the urban centres to find jobs and when they are unable to find jobs, they are  unable to rent, so we start saying we have a housing deficit”, he said.

He said sadly though, most investors in Ghana are venturing into expensive real estate for which most people cannot afford due to the high rate of unemployment.

Mr. Asiedu explained that venturing into real estate is not a bad idea but due to the lack of jobs, such houses sit idle without anyone buying them.

“When these investors construct their estates, they do not get people to buy because majority of those living in the urban centres have all come to look for jobs. If people do not have jobs how can they rent or buy homes?”, Mr. Asiedu quipped.

He said judging from the many houses that have been completed and abandoned in the various cities in the country, it is false to say we have a housing deficit that is as high as 1.7 million.

 Mr Asiedu believes the youth must be empowered in every part of the country to help reduce the increasing rate of urbanization, explaining that if the youth are provided with opportunities to start their own businesses the issue of urbanization will reduce.

He further asked business owners to create businesses that would provide numerous working opportunities for the youth.

 “If the rich in society fail to create opportunities for the youth, social vices will increase and the same rich people will be victims of the criminal activities.

“I’m also advising the media and film industry to use their platforms to promote made in Ghana products so that local manufacturers can employ more people and also attract more investors from outside”, he said.