Dormaa-ahenkro: Mr Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs of the National Tenants Union of Ghana, expressed the union's disappointment that the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026 did not address the country's increasing housing deficit.
According to Ghana News Agency, President John Dramani Mahama delivered SONA 2026 in Parliament on Friday, February 27, 2026, where he discussed key interventions and strategies to tackle national development challenges. However, Mr Afrifa-Oware, in an interview, expressed his dissatisfaction with the President's omission of housing sector interventions. He pointed out that in the 2025 SONA, the President had acknowledged the housing deficit, which was estimated at over 1.8 million units, and had mentioned addressing the abandoned Saglemi housing project.
Mr Afrifa-Oware noted that the union anticipated SONA 2026 to detail strategies for the 50,000-unit housing initiative for teachers, known as 'Teacher Dabre.' He emphasized the need for dignified accommodation for teachers, particularly in underserved and rural areas. He criticized President Mahama for failing to fulfil past promises on housing while making new ones, highlighting the absence of structural reforms in the sector.
He further addressed the challenges faced by tenants, including exploitative rent charges, urging the government to prioritize these issues. He stressed that housing is crucial and requires comprehensive reforms involving timelines, financing transparency, delivery milestones, and institutional reform.