Accra: The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has declared that Africa's next phase of housing and urban development must focus on affordability, liveability, and resilience, emphasizing that innovation must maintain cultural identity. Speaking at the inaugural Africa Real Estate Festival (AREF) 2026 in Accra, he urged stakeholders to rethink real estate beyond just land and buildings.
According to Ghana Web, the two-day event, held from April 18 to 19, 2026, brought together state regulators, diaspora investors, and industry leaders under the theme 'Innovation Meets Identity: Designing Africa's Next Living Experience.' It was organized by AREF in collaboration with Nilex Properties, Goldkey Properties, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC).
Adjei highlighted that in Ghana, the private sector delivers nearly 90% of housing, as reported by the Ghana Statistical Service. He emphasized that the government alone cannot bridge the housing gap and called on the private sector to increase investment, adopt innovative delivery models, and align with national housing priorities.
The Minister outlined a series of government policies and reforms aimed at transforming the housing sector. These include repositioning the National Affordable Housing Programme to support large-scale, mixed-income housing through public-private partnerships and decentralizing housing delivery through the District Housing Programme to ensure every district contributes to reducing the national housing deficit. Additionally, the Rent Act is under review to improve fairness, strengthen tenant protection, and create a more stable rental market.
In collaboration with the Lands Commission, the government is advancing land administration reforms to improve land acquisition, strengthen title security, and reduce delays. The Minister also announced plans to promote local building materials and green construction methods to reduce costs, support sustainability, and lower carbon emissions. Furthermore, innovative housing finance solutions are being developed with financial institutions to expand access to mortgages and long-term housing finance.
He noted that the broader legal and institutional framework is being reviewed to minimize bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and support industry growth. Earlier, AREF Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Desmond Kwesi Oteng, remarked that key conversations about African real estate have long been held outside the continent. Hosting AREF in Africa, he asserted, marks an end to 'narrative outsourcing,' and he challenged participants with the question: 'Who builds Africa?'
The Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) also stressed the need for professionalism and transparency, reminding practitioners of the ban on cash transactions under the Real Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1027), aimed at reducing fraud and money laundering. The festival further highlighted the role of the Rent Control Department in ensuring fairness between landlords and tenants to support sustainable communities.