Towards Sustainable Housing Solutions for the Low/Moderate Income Group in Ghana: Policy Change or Design Innovation?

The Government of Ghana since independence has tried various strategies in a bid to provide adequate, quality and affordable housing for citizens. This has involved different policies from direct intervention to current contemplation towards self-help mechanisms. The past results have however, been mixed if not a failure. The housing problem therefore continues to increase overwhelmingly, both in quantity and quality, and particularly for the low/moderate income group. The critical question is to what extent has these policy approaches failed, and in what ways can innovative design solutions contribute to solving the housing problem? What evidence exist, if at all, of the difference innovation in design can make? This paper examines these question using the case of the low/moderate income group in Ghana through a review of existing literature and personal observation. As the way forward, the paper proposes the need to reinforce policy decisions with innvoations in design strategies - solutions which empower residents to meet their own housing needs incrementally over time and in response to their particular requirements. The paper contributes to understanding the factors which may contribute to the success or failure of housing solutions and in particular for the low/moderate income in develping countries. It also contributes to understanding how design innovation can contribute to enhancing the housing quality of the low/moderate income residents.