Ghana

Context at a glance

Ghana stands on the Gulf of New Guinea, only a few degrees north of the equator in western Africa. Its vegetation is tropical rain forest in the southern sector that transforms into low bush country, with park-like savanna and grassy plains as one moves northwards. The forest region produces most of Ghana's cocoa, minerals and timber.

Well-endowed with natural resources, Ghana's per capita output is twice that of poorer western Africa nations. Even so, its economy remains heavily dependent on international financial assistance and continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 50 percent of the gross domestic product and employs 60 percent of the work force.

The population of Ghana as recorded in the 2000 census report is 18,912,079, of whom 41,771 were captured as non-residential. This was an increase of 53.8 percent over the 1984 population of 12,296,081, representing a growth rate of 2.7 percent (Ghana Statistical Service, 2002). The statistics of sleeping rooms used shows that 49 percent of Ghanaians use one room and 21.5 percent use two. This indicates that the majority of Ghanaians live in overcrowded rooms with the attendant health problems related to overcrowding.

As far back as 1986, the housing deficit in the country was estimated as 70,000, and an accumulated delivery deficit of 250,000 was needed to de-crowd urban units from 12.81 to a household occupancy of rate of 7. At the time 133,000 units were needed to provide adequate housing within the next 20 years as against the annual delivery of 28,000 (Ministry of Works and Housing, 1986). Other documentary evidences also indicate that Ghana's accumulated housing delivery backlog is over 300,000 housing units, with an estimated annual housing need of some 125,000 units, with low-to- moderate income families (60% of the population) in critical need (TD Consult, 1999).

Habitat for Humanity Programme

Since HFH Ghana was formed in 1987, 67 affiliates have been developed. Local affiliates build more than 400 houses a year; in 2005, HFH Ghana celebrated the dedication of its 4,000th house. HFH Ghana constructs houses using pressed blocks or baked bricks and aluminum sheeting.

Country Facts

Location: Western Africa
Climate: tropical
Population: 18,912,079 (2000 Census)
Economy: exports include cocoa, gold and timber; agriculture accounts for 50 percent of gross domestic product
Government: constitutional democracy
Religion: divided among Christian, Muslim, indigenous
Literacy: 64 percent
Language: English, Tribal

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