How affordable is affordable? – GREDA President questions Ghana’s housing solutions at Graphic/GREDA Home Fair
The President of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Dr James Condua Orleans-Lindsay, has urged stakeholders in the housing industry to prioritise research and innovation as the surest way to reduce the cost of homes and make them accessible to a wider segment of Ghanaians.
Speaking at the opening of the Daily Graphic/GREDA Home Fair in Accra today, Dr Orleans-Lindsay, who is also the Executive Chairman of JL Properties, challenged the sector to move beyond rhetoric about Ghana’s two-million-unit housing deficit and focus on affordability.
“A lot has been said about the deficit, but the real question is how affordable is affordable? We need houses that are tailor-made for our pockets. If we are catering for just a small number of people, then we are not doing our duty as developers,” he said.
Drawing lessons from an engagement with Chinese partners, he noted that Ghana’s construction methods were decades behind. “After showing them our projects, they commended us but reminded me that what we are doing today is what China was doing 20 years ago. Why? Because we are not researching into materials and methods that can bring housing costs down,” Dr Orleans-Lindsay said.
He called on industry players to explore lighter and cost-effective materials rather than continuing to rely solely on sand and cement. According to him, fairs such as the one being organised with Daily Graphic provide an opportunity for developers, financiers and stakeholders to collaborate, but real progress would only come with deliberate investment in research.
The GREDA President also highlighted his company’s sustainability efforts, disclosing that JL Properties was planting 500,000 trees to replace the hardwood used in construction. “Sustainability and smart homes should be looked at in a broader context. It is not just about fashionable terms but about practical action,” he stressed.
He further urged developers to strengthen their workforce and competitiveness, cautioning that foreign artisans were beginning to dominate the sector due to their efficiency and skill levels. “We say Ghanaians are hardworking, and we are, but there is a doubt. Many West African artisans are more serious and are bringing a lot of research-driven approaches into the system,” he observed.
Dr Orleans-Lindsay expressed appreciation to the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), MTN and other partners for consistently creating platforms to showcase housing innovations, pledging GREDA’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive sustainable housing delivery.
The three-day fair, which is being held under the theme “Technology-Enabled and Eco-Friendly Housing: Now and the Future”, is expected to provide a one-stop marketplace for affordable housing solutions, financing options, and smart living innovations.
