A new report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that approximately 29.5% of Ghana’s population, representing about 4.8 million people, are living in slums or informal settlements.
- Accra and Ashanti regions have the highest slum housing rates, over 50%.
- Recent Ghana Statistical Service report shows 29.5% of Ghanaians live in slums.
- Women in slums face higher fertility rates, posing additional challenges.
The findings underscore the severity of Ghana’s housing challenges and the urgent need for targeted urban development policies.
Slums and informal settlements spread across cities
Titled The Slums and Informal Settlements Report, the publication highlights widespread issues with housing, poor urban planning, and limited infrastructure in many Ghanaian communities. Launched on 30 June 2025, the report exposes deepening inequalities in the country’s urban landscape.
Speaking at the launch, Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, described the figures as “a serious wake-up call” and urged local authorities to take leadership in addressing urban poverty and housing deficits.
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“This data must not be shelved,” Dr Iddrisu insisted. “It should inform how we plan, allocate resources, and intervene at the local level to reduce disparities.”
Greater Accra and Ashanti regions top slum sousing rates
The report found notable regional disparities in slum conditions. The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest proportion of slum dwellers in rented spaces at 52.5%, followed by the Ashanti Region at 51.8%. Other regions posted significantly lower figures, suggesting that slum living is particularly concentrated in the nation’s most densely populated urban centres.
Dr Iddrisu called for urgent reforms in housing, sanitation, and social service delivery, noting that slum conditions pose serious threats to public health, safety, and equity. He urged metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to align their budgets and development strategies with the data presented.
The report also observed that women living in slum areas exhibit slightly higher fertility rates compared to women in non-slum localities—a dynamic that may add pressure to already overstretched infrastructure and services in informal settlements.
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Despite Ghana’s rapid population growth and increased internal migration, the GSS report revealed that only 10% of localities across the country are formally classified as urban, even though slum conditions persist in many areas. This mismatch between population trends and urban classification highlights a critical gap in planning and infrastructure expansion.
Conclusion
With nearly one-third of Ghana’s population living in informal settlements, the GSS is urging swift, data-driven action to bridge the country’s urban inequality gap.
The findings highlight a pressing need for inclusive urban reforms and equitable development policies to improve living conditions for millions of Ghanaians.
