Squatting in Ghana

In central Accra, next to Agbogbloshie, the Old Fadama settlement houses an estimated 80,000 people and is subject to a controversial discussion about eviction.

[1] More recently, the poor are generally excluded from housing and employment opportunities, so they squat land on the edge of cities to live on and also occupy pavements and public areas in order to sell goods as hawkers.

[5] The proposed eviction became a controversial issue, with the AMA wanting to redevelop the land next to the Korle Lagoon without supplying alternative accommodation for the squatters.

The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) produced a report showing that it would be possible to work on the lagoon and upgrade the settlement without the residents having to move.

[5] The Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor also backed the inhabitants and in co-operation with Shack Dwellers International set up a local savings scheme, which was successful and had spread to 82 other settlements by 2005.