Eric Kwaku Gyimah, leading a construction project on the outskirts of Accra, is turning discarded shipping containers into eco-friendly homes.
This innovative approach offers a potential remedy to Ghana’s pressing housing shortage.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, about six million of Ghana’s 33 million population urgently need housing.
The population living in slums has surged from 5.5 million in 2017 to 8.8 million by 2020.
Rapid urbanization, driven by rural-to-urban migration and natural population growth, has exacerbated the housing deficit, leading to the proliferation of informal settlements and slums.
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Economic challenges and limited access to financing have also hindered many Ghanaians from buying or building homes.
Gyimah’s initiative aims to provide affordable and sustainable living options. His homes, primarily aimed at those seeking affordable living solutions, cost between $7,000 to $10,000 for simpler designs and up to $35,000 for more complex layouts.
These prices are significantly lower than traditional bricks-and-mortar houses.
The construction process is relatively quick, with simpler designs taking a few weeks and more complex layouts up to a year. Gyimah emphasizes that these homes use natural ventilation, reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems like air conditioners.
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Despite criticisms from some planning experts, who argue that solutions like container homes may only have a small effect on Ghana’s housing problem, Gyimah remains committed to his vision.
He envisions expanding his initiative to provide mobile housing solutions for victims of natural disasters, aiming to create “symbols of resilience and hope” for those in need.