Dr Sarpong Smart: No household lodging facility exists for 98.2% of clean workforce in Ghana

The nationwide housing deficit estimates cannot be a reflection of the accurate circumstance currently. It is regrettable that we can’t have a recent update of the scenario due to the very likely rescheduling of Census 2020 to 2021 as a result of COVID-19 limitations. Nonetheless, computing Ghana’s housing deficit on the basis of 4-folks for each domestic per 2-bedroom device, translate into a deficit of about 2.7 million (GSS, Census 2010).

I, consequently, get shocked when I hear our housing deficit figures assumed to be close to 1.5 million when in actual point there has not been any arduous investment decision in this ordained sector of human existence referred to as housing, amidst the sustained maximize in populace development in Ghana and the many land acquisition challenges we are confronted with.

I am nicely aware that Ghana features shelters which do not have enough facilities to be habitable, and those requiring repairs or renovation ahead of use, in the computation of housing deficit. If those people are taken out as for each the necessary regular, the deficit would be way greater than what erroneously signifies our housing requirements as a place.

So it is a major difficulty that justifies the attention of all stakeholders and that is why I locate the manifesto assure as a ‘stone to eliminate two or even more birds’ the challenges of housing demand from customers by prospective tenants, who should 1st protected the somewhat unavailable household facility just before confronted with the challenge of rent progress payment which the Plan seeks to cater for.

Analysis Output

In all these, I have managed that deficiency of trusted data on the demand from customers and source of housing models stays the crust of our lack of ability to manage the challenge. Contributing to the dialogue more, I present a transient result of my study on Availability of Residential accommodation for new worker. This success kinds portion of a Full Employment Evaluation Report in Ghana a research done by Kumasi Technical University’s Centre for Social Science Investigate – CSSR. All advertised work in Ghana from January to December 2019 has been analysed in the report which will be shared with the basic general public with any luck , afterwards this month.

The bar chart underneath reveals the proportion of contemporary staff, numerous of whom gets to be prospective tenants and ought to very first safe the somewhat unavailable residential facility in advance of qualifying to implement to the National Rent Support Plan if it results in being operational.

From the determine, only sixty-three (63) representing 1.8% of the amount of work vacancies advertised from January to December 2019 experienced provision for lodging for such workforce. This indicate that, an too much to handle vast majority of clean personnel (98.2%) will have to always find accommodation for on their own immediately after securing careers. The absence of economic assistance for these new workforce, coupled with the search for non-present habitable accommodation facility confronts them concurrently. The proposal by the ruling governing administration is incredibly laudable to the extent that it addresses the economic bit of the problem. Even so, the implantation of these types of a fantastic thought will not be full if an aggressive notice is not paid out to escalating the housing requires of the people.

Recommendations

1. Governments need to be observed elevating the issue of very affordable housing further than the much more converse-a lot less action mode into a authentic demonstration of noticeable expenditure in this all essential sector.

• Landlords and Tenants alike need to avail their sights to sharpen the draft new rent regulation, and take part absolutely to make sure that when passed into legislation, it shall be entirely complied with by all stakeholders.

• It is time to collate a far more accurate and trusted info on Housing demand from customers, Housing provide, National Landlords and habitable amenities sign-up and other relevant info. This will manage us a greater comprehension of the measurement of our housing demands so we can effectively regulate exact. We ought to take care of this as an urgent make a difference. The Centre for Social Science Research – CSSR of Kumasi Specialized College is prepared with the ability and curiosity to assist in this regard.

• It was a surprising revelation from our work report that nevertheless the personal sector declared about 70% of the total marketed occupation vacancies in 2019, they only experienced accommodation of 1.9% for individuals personnel. Why do not the “engine of growth” exhibit similar by using advantage of this big housing demand from customers of their potential workers and the typical public to make investments additional aggressively in this alternatively vivid place of affordable housing? Elsewhere all around the world, their likes ie. Samsung, LG etcetera dominate the housing business.

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The writer is a statistician and a senior investigation Fellow at the Centre for Social Science Exploration – CSSR, Kumasi Complex College – Ghana. He can be achieved through email smartsarpong2015@gmail.com