by Rentchamber 
Kiosk Estates are springing up across Ghana’s major cities in light of high rent charges and the unregulated nature of Ghana’s property rental market. This phenomenon has been on the ascendency over the decades but there seems to be no hope in sight. Hundreds of thousands of these slum dwellers, some of which Rentchamber had conversations with, are hard-working citizens who deserve better accommodation. But where will their Saviour come from?
Well! Help is coming, as Rentchamber is working on affordable housing schemes that will cure the pain of these suffering slum dwellers. For example, individuals, through our monthly rental service, can save enough money-money that would have otherwise been used to pay the dreaded 2 years advance demanded by landlords.
Also in the coming months, specially designed housing units will be built for people like Ms. Sefakor Homeku to live a better life.
Read excerpts from a report by Daily Graphic
The Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) in the Greater Accra Region hosts perhaps one of the biggest slums in the eastern part of the Greater Accra Region.
The springing up of these make-shift structures not only poses a threat to the environment along the Tema Motorway but is also a security threat to motorists and residents of that area.
The Presiding Member (PM) of the TWMA, Mr. Kwesi Poku Bosompem, in a response to this question said as an assembly, they had resolved to streamline the placement of containers in the municipality and where possible, eject those who were illegally occupying such unapproved structures.
Kiosk Estate
Mr. Bosompem noted that the land housing the slum, which had become popularly known as “Kiosk Estate”, belonged to someone and the assembly would go after the landowner.
“If he or she is not ready to develop the land, we as an assembly will approach the Tema Development Company Ltd (TDC) to re-enter the land and take possession of it.
About the rise of the Kiosk Estate
The sprawling slum community, which is built on land earmarked for the construction of a road through Community 18, is home to thousands of people from various regions of the country.
Accommodation price
“I pay GHȼ40 as rent to the kiosk owners, which is reasonable compared to high rates charged elsewhere.”
Ms. Sefakor Homeku, who has lived in the slum for over five years told the Daily Graphic she acquired a kiosk at GHȼ800 from an agent for her provisions business.
She said she earns her livelihood from her business to sustain her family stressing that any attempt to evict her and the family will affect her negatively.
Mr. Latif Iddirisu said he relocated to the slum after a house he was putting up in the Adjei Kojo area was demolished in an exercise carried out by the TDC.
He said he could not afford the high cost of rent in other parts of the city, hence he settled for a wooden structure in the slum which is relatively cheaper.
Though the squatters are aware of plans by the city authorities to eject them, their hope is that the assembly will do so tactfully and map out a resettlement plan before any demolishing exercise is carried out.
Mr. Kwesi Amoako Atta at a sod-cutting ceremony for an intersection at the Tema end of the motorway hinted that the ministry, in collaboration with the city authorities and other stakeholders, was working out a resettlement package for squatters along the motorway and expressed the hope that they would co-operate.
It would be only a matter of time before we see if this threat is carried through.
