Ghana’s housing policy and regulation is failing – COVID proved as much

This journalistic article brings together findings from research conducted immediately after the COVID-19 lockdown in Kumasi, Ghana, on how housing characteristics and households' experiences influenced adherence to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Furthermore, the article addresses research impact activities carried out in Accra and Kumasi subsequent to the lockdown. The research findings underscore challenges such as water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, poor ventilation, limited isolation space, and distracting work environments, all of which hindered households from effectively adhering to stay-at-home and work-from-home directives during the lockdown. In light of these findings, the article advocates for a recalibration of Ghana's housing policy, with an emphasis on pro-poor initiatives. Additionally, it recommends the establishment of basic sanitary facilities as a prerequisite for landlords to access the newly-introduced National Rental Assistant Scheme, among other proposed measures.