Head of Mortgage Banking at Republic Bank, Dan Adjetey Morhenu, has described the strong public turnout at the 2026 JoyNews-Republic Bank Habitat Fair as “exciting”, saying interest in the event was evident even before exhibitors had opened their stands.

According to him, a long queue had already formed at the Achimota Retail Centre on Friday, August 21, with patrons eager to engage Republic Bank and other exhibitors on homeownership, mortgage financing and housing solutions.

“It was exciting. I was quite surprised that even before we set up on Friday, there was a long queue at the mall waiting to have a conversation with not just Republic Bank, but the other exhibitors,” Mr Morhenu said.

He was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, August 24, while reflecting on the three-day Habitat Fair, which ended at the Achimota Retail Centre on Sunday, August 23.

The event brought together prospective homeowners and players in Ghana’s housing and construction sector, giving patrons the opportunity to explore options for building, buying, financing or improving their homes.

Mr Morhenu said the level of interest was so high that Republic Bank’s mortgage team had to extend its operations beyond the scheduled closing time on the opening day.

“On Friday, we didn’t close early. We had to wait for the last person to leave our booth before we closed. That was around 8:30pm,” he said.

‘Mortgages are not just a one-time decision’

The strong turnout continued into Saturday, with more patrons visiting the fair to engage exhibitors and seek information on mortgage financing.

Mr Morhenu said the bank interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, including fellow bankers, government workers and expatriates.

“Then it followed through on Saturday. As for Saturday, people are home and so a lot of people came around. We had our fellow bankers who came around to ask, we had government workers, expatriates who came around and we had to take our time,” he said.

He said the bank could not rush its engagements with prospective customers because taking a mortgage was a significant long-term financial commitment.

“Mortgages are not just a one-time decision that you take, so we had to take our time for everybody and then we closed off on Sunday,” he added.

One of the most frequently asked questions during the fair, he said, was the minimum salary required to qualify for a mortgage.

Mr Morhenu explained that Republic Bank does not have a fixed minimum salary threshold, allowing people with different income levels to explore mortgage options.

“One of the key questions that came up was what is the minimum salary to qualify for a mortgage, and we kept hammering that we don’t have a minimum salary. No matter the amount you earn as income, there is a mortgage for you,” he said.

He explained, however, that a customer’s income would determine the type of mortgage arrangement and homeownership option that would be most suitable.

Customers with lower incomes, he said, could begin their homeownership journey by acquiring land and gradually progressing to construction, while those with higher incomes could potentially purchase completed properties.

“It’s just that based on the quantum of income, some people may have to start from the land and we walk them through the building. Some also, because they earn so much, are able to acquire properties immediately,” he explained.

Republic Bank highlights fixed mortgage rates

Mr Morhenu also highlighted Republic Bank’s fixed mortgage rates, saying the arrangement gives customers greater certainty in managing their finances throughout the repayment period.

He said the bank’s mortgage offering went beyond simply financing the purchase of a property to helping customers manage their cash flow.

“At Republic Bank, our rates are fixed. We fix it because we want you to manage your cash flow. So it is not just about purchasing a house; we are also managing your cash flow for you,” he said.

According to him, the approach enables prospective homeowners to better understand their financial obligations and plan their finances around their mortgage repayments.

Mr Morhenu also spoke about challenges faced by some customers who had taken US dollar-denominated mortgage loans from other banks.

He disclosed that Republic Bank, in 2022, assisted some of these customers by refinancing their dollar-denominated loans into cedi facilities.

“In 2022, we had to refinance a lot of these loans. They had US dollar loans with other banks. They approached us to refinance them in cedis, so most of them are okay now,” he said.

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He urged customers who were still struggling with such loans not to abandon their properties but to approach Republic Bank to explore possible refinancing arrangements.

“If there are some of them who are still struggling, don’t walk away from your property. They should come and speak to us so that we can refinance them into cedis,” Mr Morhenu said.

He added that the bank would be willing to consider flexible terms for eligible customers to help them manage their mortgage obligations.

‘We were really overwhelmed with numbers’

Mortgage Specialist at Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, Elizabeth Abena Anokware Amedeka, also expressed gratitude to the public for the strong turnout at the Habitat Fair.

She said the event provided an important opportunity for prospective homeowners to ask practical questions and gain a better understanding of how to begin their homeownership journey.

“We want to thank the public for the massive turnout. It was great. People asked the right questions about mortgage and how to start. We were really overwhelmed with numbers,” she said.

Ms Amedeka encouraged members of the public to participate in subsequent editions of the fair, assuring them that Republic Bank was prepared to support customers throughout the mortgage process.

“We want to say don’t miss the next session because Republic Bank is ready to walk you through this journey and we are ready to assist you from the beginning of the process to you picking up your keys,” she said.

She stressed that the bank’s role went beyond providing loans, saying it was committed to guiding customers through the various stages of securing a home.