Overview of Self-Help (Self-Build) Housing Provision in Ghana: Policies and Challenges

Abstract

The provision of housing in developing countries is usually faced with challenges such as inadequate funding, policy inefficiencies, lack of political commitment among others. In Ghana, these challenges have resulted in the significantly poor development of the housing sector with individuals embarking on self-built housing projects to meet their shelter needs. Unfortunately these self-builders are faced with numerous challenges that impede the successful completion of their housing projects. Though the contribution of self-build housing is significant to the country’s housing stock many self-build housing projects are left uncompleted. The aim of this paper is to establish the factors affecting the success of SBHPs in Ghana. The methodology adopted is mainly a critical review of relevant literature and analyzed mainly based on inductive thinking and analytical creativity. Nine (9) factor groupings were established which include; Self-builder related, Development and Planning Regulations related, Land and Tenure-related, Finance and Cost related, Building Planning and Design relateds, Material and Equipment related, Labour related, Supervision and Management related, and External related.. Further investigation of these factors was recommended to establish critical factors for consideration in the design of a framework aimed at enhancing the contribution of self-build housing to the housing stock of Ghana.

Keywords: Self-help, Housing provision, Policies, Challenges, Ghana