Housing in Ghana: The case for a Central Executive Agency

Abstract

This paper considers the experience of Ghana in the effort to provide satisfactory housing for its people and the recent National Housing Policy document. After reviewing housing programmes implemented since the early 1950s it is suggested that the absence of a broad-based and well-staffed national housing agency accounts in large measure for the lack of success. Such an agency should be able to continuously predict, assess and react to changes in its operating environment. It should have a wide measure of freedom and direct control over the important aspects of its operations. Access to the vital resources of relevant types of personnel, materials and finance, determination of the items to produce and fixing of rents and sale prices are important. The need to tailor specific programmes to meet the requirements of particular target groups is considered. It is suggested that such an agency should be given much power and prestige if it is to make any headway in the fulfilment of its task. © 1989.