Communications Team Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freda Agyemang Sarpong has bemoaned the number of Ghanaians living in kiosks and containers after the preliminary report on the 2021 Population and Housing Census was published.
She reiterated that a census is conducted to aid in nation building and the recent findings which indicate that 2.1 million structures are metal containers, kiosks and structures is worrying.
Overwhelmed by the number, she asked, “What has caused such a large number of structures in the country to be inhabited by a section of the population? Is it as a result of migration or the cost of buildings?”
According to her former President Kufuor had the dream of affordable housing “but how affordable is it?”
The politician indicated that affordable housing projects targeted at those who really need them, is the way to go in resolving Ghana’s housing deficit. “When it comes to affordable housing, the buildings should be constructed to meet the needs of those who really need them. We should build single room apartments for the kayeyi and not 2 and 3 bedroom houses which we end up selling to the rich who will rent it out at exorbitant prices.”
Appealing to agencies in charge of housing, she stated, “Proactive steps need to be taken to resolve our housing deficit and these steps must favour those who really need these homes.”
Preliminary report from the Ghana Statistical Service on the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) has revealed that about 2.1 million structures are metal containers, kiosks and structures.
This number represents twenty percent of the 10.7 million structures listed in the Population and Housing Census.
According to the report, “The 2021 PHC is the first time that data was collected on all structures regardless of use. Previous censuses only collected information on structures used for residential purposes. The 2010 PHC recorded 3.4 structures for residential use, which is 2.5 million less the 5.9 counted in 2021”.
The provisional results also pegged Ghana’s population at 30.8 million.
