Revisiting the political economy of housing in Ghana: progress or stagnation

Abstract This paper examines the housing crisis in Ghana from a political economy perspective, highlighting the role of colonial legacies and institutional failure, where housing shortages contribute to social inequality in Ghana. Using qualitative policy analysis, in a materialist framework, through a Foucauldian lens, the research examines important policies across the last 60 years, from 1963 to 2023, through documents and data collected from various agencies. The findings reveal that neoliberal strategies have shifted the role of the state from a provider of housing to a facilitator of the market in a way that marginalises the urban poor. Major barriers include fractured institutional arrangements, limited access to mortgage financing, high interest rates, and political interference in funding. Ultimately, the evidence reveals that the barriers created by neoliberal policies are structural around the nexus of housing, not a product of poor planning, and require a comprehensive transition to understanding housing as a human right, increased state financing, tenant protection, and an understanding of urban planning.