Women urged to build wealth through home ownership: CDD-Ghana findings inspire women to invest in self-built homes

A Unit Committee Member for the Tako Fiano Electoral Area in the Techiman South Constituency, Raniatu Dauda, has called on women to work hard, invest wisely, and pursue home ownership as a powerful tool for economic empowerment and generational wealth creation.

Her remarks came during a community engagement session following the presentation of research findings by the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE), the University of Ghana, and the University of Manchester. The study focused on self-building housing and its critical role in urban and economic development, with fieldwork conducted in areas including Techiman’s Tako Fiano and Hansua communities.

According to the research, over 90% of homes in Ghana are self-built, with a striking revelation that a significant number of landlords are women, defeating long-standing cultural perceptions that women are less likely to own land or property.

In an interview with the media following the presentation of research findings by Dr. George Owusu—a professor at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and Director of the Centre for Urban Management Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, Raniatu Dauda described the findings as refreshing, especially for women who have been hesitant to pursue financial independence due to the misconception that women cannot own houses or property in the country.

“We learned a lot today, and one of the most encouraging findings from the research is that many women in Techiman own houses. This is very empowering, it shows that, as women, we can also acquire property in the form of houses, pass them on as inheritance to our children, or even rent them out to generate income.” She said

She explained that in the past, cultural and legal barriers limited women’s ability to own land or property. However, those barriers are slowly being dismantled, paving the way for women to take more control of their financial futures.

“In the past, women were not given the opportunity to own land, let alone houses. However, this research shows that such practices are becoming a thing of the past. Today, women are being empowered to own houses and property. I encourage all women to work hard and invest wisely, not just in clothing and fashion, but in meaningful projects that can benefit us and our families in the future.” She stated.

The CDD-Ghana-led research highlighted that self-building housing, though often unregulated, plays a massive role in economic development generating jobs for artisans, tradespeople, and building material suppliers. However, challenges such as limited access to land, poor infrastructure, and weak adherence to planning codes persist.

Source: Ghanaweb.mobi