A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed nearly one in every three households in Ghana lives in a slum or informal settlement.

The survey indicated that 29.5% of Ghanaian households, representing an estimated 4.8 million people, reside in conditions that fall below acceptable standards of housing and urban planning.

The data showed significant regional disparities, with Greater Accra Region recording the highest proportion of slum dwellers in rented accommodation, at 52.5%, followed by the Ashanti Region at 51.8%.

In contrast, other regions recorded much lower rates, highlighting a concentration of slum-related challenges in Ghana’s two most populous regions.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, described the findings as a wake-up call for policymakers.

He emphasised the need for coordinated action, particularly at the local government level, to address the widening inequality within Ghana’s urban spaces.