Ghana: UN Housing Expert Warns Against Forced Evictions and Urges Inclusive Urban Planning

Summary

On 9 October 2026, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Koldo Casla, issued a statement at the conclusion of an official visit to Ghana. The statement was released the same day as a press release by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which summarised it as a call for housing construction to serve the needs of working people first.

The Special Rapporteur warned that housing affordability risks becoming a misnomer if policies are not targeted at working people with low incomes, whom he described as the majority of the population. He called for an end to forced evictions without prior consultation and proper compensation, and urged the Government to strengthen the Rent Control Department. This report summarises his preliminary observations, the reporting on the visit and the relevant international standards.

Background: The Official Visit

According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Special Rapporteur visited Ghana from 28 September to 9 October 2026. GNA reported on 28 September that the visit would assess the right to adequate housing in law and practice, including access to public housing, affordability in the private sector, habitability standards, access to essential services, the impact of the climate crisis on housing and residents' participation in housing and urban development decisions.

GNA reported that the itinerary covered the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Tamale and surrounding communities, and Cape Coast, with meetings planned with national and local officials, civil society, the private sector, tenants, residents of informal settlements and people experiencing homelessness.

Affordability and Speculative Construction

In the OHCHR statement, the Special Rapporteur said: "I could see flashy billboards around the capital promoting real estate investments at stratospheric prices far from reach for the average Ghanaian. Many of these properties remain vacant, which suggests that much of the construction in wealthy parts of Accra seem to meet speculative financial ends other than satisfying the right to adequate housing of the population."

He urged the Government to recognise that the general unaffordability of formally built housing leaves many Ghanaians with no choice but to move into informal settlements or rely on substandard housing. According to the statement, about 31 per cent of the urban population lives in informal settlements, and conservative estimates put the number of people experiencing homelessness at around 100,000, including about 60,000 children.

Citi Newsroom reported on 11 October 2026 that the Special Rapporteur also acknowledged the construction sector's contribution to the economy, noting that it employs hundreds of thousands of people and contributes an estimated seven to 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

Informal Settlements and Forced Evictions

"The threat of forced evictions without prior consultation and proper compensation must end," the Special Rapporteur said. GNA reported on 10 October 2026 that his statement referred to the Old Fadama community in Accra, which he said "has faced continuous threats of forced eviction since the early 2000s, including most recently as a consequence of the local government's development plan for the adjacent Agbogbloshie Market."

According to GNA, the Special Rapporteur also said that "politicians must pay particular attention to the need to avoid the use of stereotypical language to criminalise homeless people or people living in informal settlements." GNA noted that the comments followed recent demolitions of structures in Accra. JURIST reported on 11 October 2026 that the Special Rapporteur pointed to communities including Old Fadama and Peace Village in Jamestown and urged authorities to upgrade informal settlements and provide essential services such as water, sanitation and electricity.

Rent and Tenant Protection

The statement noted that more than a third of Ghanaians pay rent for their homes, rising to more than 40 per cent in urban areas. The Special Rapporteur invited the Government to strengthen the Rent Control Department and related institutions so that they can effectively monitor and limit rent increases and protect tenants from extortionate rent advances.

Climate Change and Housing

The Special Rapporteur described the effects of climate change on housing as damaging and profoundly unfair, citing drought in northern communities, flooding in southern communities and rising temperatures in informal settlements. He said authorities must prioritise the preparedness of local governments to mitigate flooding and other climate related disasters, and that the international community should support these efforts in the spirit of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Positive Developments Noted

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the adoption of several housing related policies in recent years and praised Ghana's diplomatic leadership on reparations for historical injustices. He said: "Ghana has been a beacon of democratic stability in the region since the early 1990s. When it comes to the right to housing, may Ghana lead by example."

Position of the Government of Ghana

At the time of writing, the Taskforce had not identified a published response from the Government of Ghana to the end of mission statement. Any official response will be reflected in future updates.

Relevant International Standards

Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including adequate housing. Ghana ratified the Covenant in 2000. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in its General Comment No. 7 (1997), states that evictions should not result in individuals being rendered homeless and that procedural protections, including genuine consultation, adequate notice and access to legal remedies, must be observed.

The Special Rapporteur will present a detailed report on his visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.

Taskforce Note

The Global HR Taskforce will continue to monitor developments, including the Special Rapporteur's final report and any response from the Government of Ghana. Sources: OHCHR press release on the end of the Special Rapporteur's visit to Ghana, 9 October 2026, as republished by The National Tribune (9 October 2026) and Modern Ghana (12 October 2026); Ghana News Agency, "UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Housing to visit Ghana," 28 September 2026; Ghana News Agency, "UN cautions against forced evictions without prior consultation," 10 October 2026; Ghana News Agency, "UN Housing Expert urges Ghana to prioritise affordable homes," 11 October 2026; Citi Newsroom, "Strengthen Rent Control Department, UN advises Ghana," 11 October 2026; JURIST, 11 October 2026; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; CESCR General Comment No. 7.