A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) paints a stark picture of urban housing conditions, revealing that nearly 4.82 million urban residents—roughly one in every three—live in slums or informal settlements across the country.
Titled “The Slums and Informal Settlements Report,” the study highlights that 46.1% of urban households in Ghana meet at least one slum-defining condition. These include inadequate access to clean drinking water, poor sanitation, overcrowding, and non-durable housing structures.
Launching the report in Accra, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu described the data as a critical wake-up call for national and local policymakers.
“This data must not be shelved. It should inform how we plan, allocate resources, and intervene at the local level to reduce disparities,” Dr. Iddrisu stated.
The GSS findings come at a time of rising urbanization and housing demand, intensifying pressure on cities to provide inclusive, safe, and sustainable living conditions.
The report is expected to shape government housing policies and urban development strategies, especially under the Ministry of Works and Housing and relevant Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
