Innovative Strategies for Affordable Housing in Ghanaian Cities: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Ghana is confronted with an acute housing shortage of over 1.8 million units currently, which grows by approximately 70,000 units annually. Urbanization, rural-urban migration, and infrastructure shortfall all combine to aggravate the crisis. Traditional responses to housing fail to deal with low- and middle-income demand, resulting in intensified dependence on informal settlements with limited services. Through a systematic review, the study analyzes innovative approaches to Ghana's affordable urban housing deficit in Ghanaian urban areas. Based on an extensive body of peer-reviewed research articles, organizational reports, and empirical case studies published between 2001 and 2025, the paper presents the most salient solutions, including modular and prefabricated housing, eco-friendly building materials, and community-based initiatives. The paper acknowledges the potential of modular construction to reduce construction time and housing costs, with the use of green materials enhancing environmental sustainability. Community-led housing schemes and digital data analysis then emerge as the most critical elements for shaping inclusive, resilient, and affordable urban growth. While these strategies have attractive benefits, policy deficits, infrastructure constraints, and capacity shortages compromise their successful implementation. The paper calls for a multi-stakeholder approach, combining technology, policy reform, and local capacity development with the vision of efficiently closing Ghana's housing gap and promoting sustainable urban growth.