Mahama recounts ‘exhausting and frustrating’ struggle to find a home as a young spouse

President John Mahama has shared his personal account of the "exhausting" and "frustrating" challenge his young marriage faced when they sought to find a suitable and affordable home in Ghana. During a presentation at the National Conference on Housing Finance, the President recounted how his wife, First Lady Lordina Mahama, and he explored numerous options across Accra with estate agents, only to find the process exceedingly tiring.

Their search ultimately led them to a property on Madina New Road, yet the journey was marked by significant financial pressures. The extensive costs associated with the down payment, multiple years' rent in advance, and additional fees to the estate agent nearly jeopardized their financial stability before they even began their married life together. These financial strains, President Mahama highlighted, are a common issue faced by many young Ghanaian families.

He emphasized that the housing crisis extends beyond mere numbers, stressing the personal and emotional impact of inadequate and unaffordable housing. President Mahama underscored that behind every statistic lies a person or family striving for security and a brighter future. He pointed out that Ghana currently has a housing deficit of 1.8 million units and that over 30 percent of existing homes are inadequate.

The President's remarks came as the conference addressed the pressing need to tackle Ghana's housing deficit by constructing more homes and improving living conditions in existing ones. He stressed the importance of ensuring that new residences are safe, accessible, and well-connected to jobs and essential services, as well as addressing issues like overcrowding in slums, insecure tenure, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to utilities.