Background

Ghana has a population of close to 21 million persons, 43% of those being urban dwellers.  The economy is growing at approximately 5% and the country has many natural resources, which means that it has a higher per capita income than neighbouring countries.  However it has suffered from high inflation and about 60% of the work force works in the agriculture sector.  The urban poor are estimated at 1.5 million persons.  The government of Ghana is keen to make improve living conditions for its citizens and new housing and municipal finance policies are under preparation.  The banking sector in Ghana seems keen to experiment with ways to enable capital to reach the urban poor.

Objectives

The Amui Djor housing and infrastructure project is located in the Amui Djor community (formerly known as Tulaaku) in the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly area.  It is a residential/commercial housing and infrastructure development for the permanent housing and income-generation for members of the Amui Djor Housing Cooperative.  The project seeks to build new multi-storey housing with some commercial spaces on the ground floor and shared spaces for cooking (both domestic and commercial), toilets and baths as well as other household activities. These units will be owned by the cooperative and would be for both rental and ownership as the cooperative decides.  There will also be a space for a cooperative office.  This project is geared at ensuring the ownership of a rental or ownership home by cooperative members with tenure security.

Implementation

The project consists of first a demonstration project and then a pilot project. The project partner, People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements is in the process of implementing the demonstration phase of this slum upgrading project. The demonstration project involves six dwelling units and two commercial shops. The pilot phase will up-scale the demonstration project and is located on a 90ft x 80ft plot size and will have up to eighteen dwelling units and six commercial shops. The development includes new housing of permanent building materials and infrastructure, including sustainable drainage and refuse facilities.

Results

Expected results include tried and tested mechanisms for providing capital financing for slum upgrading in Amui Djor, including the provision of infrastructure, new housing and housing improvement; improved quality of life in participating communities, and; and leveraged private bank participation in slum upgrading projects.

Impact

Improved living conditions for the low-income community of Amui Djor.