Organisational Challenges Of Local Authority Managed Public Housing. A Ghanaian Experience

Public housing has been widely acknowledged for its tremendous contribution to addressing housing deficit in many countries. Notwithstanding the shift towards neo-liberalism and the emphasis on private sector-led housing production, public housing still remains relevant. In Ghana, the Government undertook a large scale sale of government-built public housing in the 1980s in direct response to the neo-liberal call. The remaining stock which were transferred to local authorities (LAs) to own and manage continue to contribute to labour mobility and productivity by offering secure housing for some civil servants. Unfortunately, the conditions of the houses have largely been described as poor due to ineffective management and maintenance; more technically described as organisational challenges. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges LAs face in the management of public housing. The study interviewed policymakers at the national level, local authority officers and tenants. It found that, there is inadequate policy and regulatory framework for housing management. Furthermore, poor organisational structure and coordination, inadequate skilled personnel, and inadequate finance are among key challenges of public housing management. The paper suggests a concentration of housing management activities at the local level, developing a clear structure and defined roles for actors, and tenant participation as potential directions for solutions to these challenges.