Please Hear Us Out, GH¢950,000 For A Two‑Bedroom Is Not Affordable Housing – Nana Kwadwo Jantuah

Nana Kwadwo Jantuah, a building technologist, has appealed to the President of Ghana and the Minister for Works and Housing to reconsider the pricing of government-backed affordable housing, arguing that the current costs make homeownership impossible for many ordinary Ghanaians. In an open letter shared on Facebook, he stressed that a two-bedroom house costing GH¢950,000 cannot reasonably be described as affordable. He called on the government to embrace locally produced bricks as a more cost-effective alternative to conventional building materials.

Jantuah highlighted the growing gap between workers’ earnings and the cost of purchasing a home. According to him, teachers, nurses and police officers earn approximately GH¢3,000 to GH¢4,000 per month, making it extremely difficult for them to afford houses priced at nearly GH¢1 million. He explained that monthly mortgage repayments on such properties could exceed GH¢10,000, far beyond what many public-sector workers can comfortably pay.

He argued that the situation raises serious questions about the purpose of affordable housing programmes, particularly when the people who need them most cannot meet the financial requirements. He maintained that housing policies should reflect the economic realities of ordinary citizens rather than place homeownership beyond their reach.

Jantuah attributed the high cost of construction partly to Ghana’s heavy dependence on sandcrete blocks, which require substantial quantities of cement. He noted that cement is expensive and that prices exceeding GH¢85 per bag have placed additional pressure on building budgets. In his view, continuing to rely heavily on cement-based construction methods is economically unsustainable when the country possesses abundant natural resources that could be used to develop cheaper alternatives.

As a solution, the building technologist recommended the widespread adoption of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), commonly known as interlocking bricks. These blocks are produced by combining laterite soil with a small proportion of cement before compressing the mixture into strong building units.

He explained that the blocks are designed to fit together, reducing the amount of mortar required during construction. Their use can also reduce the need for extensive plastering and painting, helping developers lower overall building expenses without necessarily compromising the quality of the finished structure.

To support his argument, Jantuah referred to Ghanaian research comparing the cost of constructing a two-bedroom house with sandcrete blocks and interlocking bricks. The findings indicated that the alternative building method could save approximately 114 bags of cement, reduce sand consumption by 77 per cent, lower labour requirements by 69 per cent and cut finishing expenses by 85 per cent.

According to the figures he cited, using interlocking bricks could reduce wall construction costs by more than 40 per cent under prevailing market conditions. He argued that these potential savings could make a significant difference in the delivery of affordable housing, particularly for low- and middle-income earners struggling to purchase their own homes.

Beyond the financial benefits, Jantuah maintained that earth-based construction offers environmental advantages. He explained that buildings constructed with these blocks can provide cooler indoor conditions because of the thermal properties of the material. He also noted that producing the bricks locally could create employment opportunities, support small businesses and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported construction inputs.

He therefore urged the government to take practical steps towards making housing more accessible. Among his recommendations was the introduction of genuinely affordable homes priced between GH¢320,000 and GH¢450,000, rather than the significantly higher prices currently being questioned.

He also called for the implementation of the 60 per cent local materials provision contained in Ghana’s Housing Policy. According to him, giving greater priority to locally available construction resources would help reduce building costs while strengthening domestic industries.

Another proposal involved establishing brick production factories across districts to create jobs for young people. Jantuah further encouraged technical universities to train students in the production and use of interlocking bricks, arguing that equipping young people with these skills would support the growth of the construction industry and promote innovative building practices.

In concluding his appeal, Jantuah emphasised that Ghana already possesses the natural resources needed to construct more affordable homes. He argued that continuing to depend heavily on expensive cement while neglecting locally available alternatives could worsen the housing difficulties faced by citizens.

He maintained that adopting locally produced earth bricks could help address housing affordability, generate employment and retain more money within the Ghanaian economy. He also expressed his willingness to demonstrate the practicality of his proposal by constructing a sample house and presenting a detailed breakdown of the costs involved, challenging the authorities to consider a more locally driven approach to housing development.

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