Minister of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening ties with Türkiye in the areas of housing and infrastructure development, describing the partnership as a key driver in tackling the country’s growing housing needs.

Speaking to JoyNews on the sidelines of the ongoing Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) in Istanbul, the Minister said Ghana sees Türkiye as “a reliable partner in our drive to deliver affordable, climate-resilient housing and improve urban infrastructure.”

He explained that Ghana’s participation in the Forum is focused on strengthening existing bilateral relations and attracting new investment into the housing and construction sectors.

“We are here to strengthen existing relations with our Turkish counterparts and explore new investment opportunities in housing and infrastructure,” he said.

With Ghana’s housing deficit currently estimated at two million units, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth and lack of affordable housing, the Minister said the government is implementing a multi-sector strategy to close the gap.

“We are tackling it through multi-sector collaboration, encouraging local material use, supporting developers with access to serviced land, and ensuring housing is accessible to low- and middle-income earners. Our ministry is also promoting new building technologies that make housing faster and more affordable to deliver,” he said.

On sustainability, Minister of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Kenneth Adjei, noted that Ghana is aligning its housing agenda with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Climate Change Policy.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our policies. We are promoting energy-efficient buildings, water conservation, and the use of locally sourced, climate-resilient materials,” he said, adding that the government aims to ensure that all new housing developments contribute to environmental resilience.

Asked about investment opportunities for Turkish businesses, the Minister described Ghana as one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for housing and infrastructure investors.

“Ghana has a growing urban population and a strong demand for affordable and middle-income housing. The government has created an enabling environment, through public-private partnerships, tax incentives, and simplified land processes, for investors who want to enter the market.

"We welcome Turkish expertise, particularly in prefabricated construction, green building technologies, and housing finance models,” he said.

Mr Adjei praised Türkiye’s global reputation in construction and engineering, emphasising that Ghana–Türkiye cooperation has already yielded positive results.

“Our partnership with Turkey has been mutually beneficial. Turkish firms are known for their technical expertise and quality delivery.

"We believe the Türkiye –Africa Forum will open even more doors for collaboration in infrastructure, housing, and skills transfer,” he stated.

He assured potential investors of Ghana’s commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that strict oversight mechanisms are in place to guarantee value for money.

“We are guided by strong procurement laws and monitoring frameworks. Transparency and accountability are central to our work. We also emphasise local participation to ensure projects deliver both economic and social value,” he explained.

Responding to whether specific projects are available for collaboration, the minister said several public-private partnership projects are open to foreign participation.

“Yes. We have ongoing and upcoming projects in affordable housing, urban renewal, and infrastructure upgrading.

"These include public-private partnership housing projects and industrial housing for key economic zones. We welcome Turkish participation in these initiatives,” he revealed.

Kenneth Gilbert Adjei extended a strong invitation to Turkish investors, assuring them of Ghana’s stable political climate and investor-friendly policies.

“Ghana is open for business. We offer political stability, a growing economy, and an investment-friendly environment. We invite Turkish investors to be part of our housing transformation story, where investment meets real social impact,” he said.

The 5th Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum has brought together over 4,000 participants, ministers, and business leaders.

It continues in Istanbul with a focus on deepening trade and investment between Türkiye and African nations under the theme “Leveraging Türkiye–Africa Relations for Mutual Gains.”