Ghana Green Building Summit 2025 Unites Stakeholders to Drive Affordable, Sustainable Housing Agenda
The 6th Ghana Green Building Summit (GGBS) was successfully held in Accra, convening over 300 stakeholdersfrom government, development institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society to discuss the future of affordable, sustainable housing in Ghana.
Theme: ‘Reimagining Buildings and Cities for Economic and Social Prosperity’
The summit, led by Cyril Nii Ayitey Tetteh, emphasized that green and sustainable buildings are not a luxury, but a necessity for inclusive development. Tetteh described sustainability as a driver of continuity and resilience, grounded in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and sustainable banking practices.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Green Housing
Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, assured participants of the government’s commitment to green building. He highlighted the District Housing Programme as a key initiative that integrates green principles and locally sourced materials to meet the country’s housing needs.
“Affordable—in quotes—because what is affordable to me may not be affordable to you,” he noted, calling for better definitions and green finance solutions.
Climate Change: The Urgency of Sustainable Design
Hon. Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, warned of the increasing impacts of climate change. Speaking through Cedric Dzelu, he cited World Bank reports predicting climate-related economic losses may triple by 2050, with over 30 million Ghanaians exposed to extreme heat.
“Let us then design cities that breathe. Cities that include. Cities that endure,” he urged.
Technical Insights from IFC EDGE
Paul Kwesi Ocran, Green Buildings Lead at IFC, debunked the myth that sustainable housing must be expensive or high-rise. Using examples from Accra and Tamale, he showed how low-tech solutions such as reflective roofing and efficient lighting can yield 30%+ energy and water savings.
Redefining Affordability and Celebrating Youth Innovation
John Sheriff Bawah, Managing Director of State Housing Company Limited, addressed Ghana’s challenge of defining what constitutes affordable housing. He commended Joel Jojo Osam Mensah, winner of the IFC EDGE Student Design Competition, whose eco-conscious home design achieved over 50% resource savings. Bawah offered him a job on the spot, a move endorsed by the Housing Minister.
Global Partnerships and Legal Frameworks
Yewande Giwa of the IFC thanked the UK and Swiss governments for supporting green finance across Africa, and posed a powerful question:
“What if every new building in Ghana met the EDGE standard?”
Vera Owusu-Osei, Co-Chair at AB & David Africa, called the summit “a model for aligning policy, innovation, and legal frameworks.”
From the British High Commission, Richard Sandall emphasized the need for leadership and systemic thinking, reiterating:
“Green buildings are not a luxury. They are a necessity.”
In-Depth Panel Discussions
The summit featured six engaging panels:
Panel 1: The Business Case for Green Affordable Housing
Panel 2: Reimagining Our Public Spaces
Panel 3: Reimagining Our Cities – Policy Models for Resilient Development
Panel 4: Building a Business Case for ESG – A C-Suite Conversation
Panel 5: Unlocking Climate Finance for Project Pipeline Development
Panel 6: Advancing Green Infrastructure Through Renewable Energy & E-Mobility
About the Ghana Green Building Summit
Founded in 2017, the Ghana Green Building Summit has become a critical forum for assessing the country’s green building needs. Recognized as Green Event of the Year (2019), the summit partners with IFC EDGE to host design competitions and professional workshops. From 2025, the summit is evolving into the Ghana Green Summit, with a broader focus on sustainable development and the full sustainability value chain.
