By Emmanuel AKOMEA
Co-founders of the Ghana Property and Lifestyle Expo, Anna Agyekum and Victoria Agyekum have called for increased collaboration between the public and private sectors to tackle Ghana’s affordable housing crisis.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Expo and Lifestyle in Accra, Anna Agyekum emphasised the need for tax incentives and policy reforms to encourage developers to construct affordable homes, especially in regions beyond the capital, Accra.
She underscored the potential of private-public partnerships as a driving force in bridging Ghana’s housing deficit, urging policymakers to engage with think tanks and industry leaders to craft effective strategies.
Speaking on strategies to enhance access to housing, she emphasized the importance of incentivizing developers through tax breaks and fostering private-public partnerships to encourage the construction of more affordable homes.
“There is a need for more communication, think tanks, and industry-led decisions to create an enabling environment for affordable housing. Ghana is not just Accra—there is much more land to be developed,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that Ghanaians are not left behind in the push for development, suggesting that the government could play a pivotal role in creating favorable policies and landscapes to bridge the housing gap.
The call to expand affordable housing initiatives outside of Accra is seen as a crucial step toward decentralizing development and reducing the pressure on the capital’s real estate market.
She underscored the need for strategic collaboration and innovative solutions to make housing accessible to a larger section of Ghanaians, particularly those in underserved regions.
The two-day Ghana Property and Lifestyle Expo, held in partnership with the British High Commissioner, who sees the Expo as a safe and transparent platform for the diaspora to invest in Ghana. The event, themed “Diligently Building Wealth Through Ghana Real Estate: The Future of Property Investment,” aims to harness this momentum by connecting global investors, the diaspora, and local stakeholders to Ghana’s burgeoning property market.
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, Evans Amoah-Nyamekye also noted that while the diaspora are encouraged to invest in the country’s real estate sector, there is the need for proper legal advice and guidance for prospective buyers.
He indicated that although the diaspora community often takes advantage of legal opportunities, they frequently overlook the essential step of consulting legal counsel when investing in Ghanaian real estate. This oversight can result in challenges and potential risks during the property acquisition process.
To address this, he emphasised the importance of providing the diaspora community with access to reliable legal advice and guidance. He said the Expo presents a huge opportunity to have access to the right legal advice.
The bustling garden of the British High Commissioner’s residence in Accra was the setting for a gathering of business leaders and investors from Ghana and the United Kingdom, all eager to capitalize on the growing economic ties between the two nations.
Development Director for British High Commissioner for Ghana, Richard Sandall emphasized that the event’s mission is to cut more deals, to see more opportunities and to build networks, all of which are crucial for supporting the growth of both the Ghanaian and British economies.
Addressing the evolving Ghana-UK trade relationship, Mr. Sandal noted that the post-COVID period has seen Ghana gradually stabilizing its economy and currency, presenting even more opportunities for UK investors to explore the Ghanaian market.
He praised the efforts of the founders for the hard work and the valuable services they are providing to businesses and investors. He expressed confidence that events like this one will help build trust and confidence in challenging markets, where it can be difficult to find the right partners.
