By Felix Cofie
The government has announced plans to repurpose aging government estates in major urban centres as part of a broader strategy to expand housing delivery and respond to the pressures of rapidly growing cities.
Managing Director of the State Housing Company Limited (SHCL), John Bawah, disclosed this at the launch of the company’s new 24-hour Premium Service Centre in Accra. He said the urban redevelopment programme will significantly increase the national housing stock while improving service delivery to the public.
According to Mr Bawah, more than 300 housing units are scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with advanced plans underway to pilot urban redevelopment projects at Kaneshi, Kanda, Adenta, and Ifikuma Estates in Takoradi. These projects are expected to deliver over 500 additional housing units in the short to medium term.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama to transform aging government estates into modern, high-density developments capable of meeting current urban housing needs.
As part of this vision, SHCL is also preparing to launch the Bidiswa Housing Project in Kumasi in the first half of the year. The large-scale development, to be located in the Garden City, is expected to deliver over 1,000 housing units, complete with supporting infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities.
Mr Bawah explained that State Housing’s mandate goes beyond constructing houses to providing efficient administrative services around home ownership and ensuring the optimal use of state assets for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.
In a major milestone, he announced the successful renewal of head leases for five key estates—Teshie-Nungua, Achimota, North Mamprobi, East Cantonments, and Taneshi—describing the achievement as rare in the company’s history. He cautioned that enforcement actions would soon begin against individuals occupying State Housing properties without authorisation.
The Managing Director also revealed that SHCL is actively involved in the Greenfield District Housing Scheme and the completion of abandoned affordable housing projects in Koforidua, Wa, and Tamale, as well as progress on the Pokuase housing project. Combined, these initiatives are expected to add over 2,000 housing units to the national stock upon completion.
Beyond residential housing, State Housing is currently constructing seven regional headquarters buildings for the Ghana Immigration Service, alongside residential apartments in Tamale and Takoradi. Discussions are also ongoing with the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Prison Service for similar projects.
Turning to service delivery, Mr Bawah said the launch of the 24-hour service centre reflects SHCL’s commitment to the government’s RESET Agenda, which focuses on institutional reform, efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centred service. The centre will allow clients to process documents, make payments, resolve tenancy issues, and access customer support around the clock.
He commended the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, the SHCL Board, and staff of the company for their support, stressing that professionalism and empathy would remain central to service excellence.
“State Housing Company Limited is not just building houses,” Mr Bawah said. “We are building trust, systems, and a modern public institution that contributes meaningfully to the Ghana we want.”
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with government and stakeholders to deliver affordable, high-quality housing solutions for Ghanaians nationwide.
