Family-houses in Ghanaian Cities: To Be or Not To Be?

Rent-free housing consumption is routine in the cities of West Africa. In Kumasi, Ghana's second city, one-quarter of all households occupy free accommodation and the population so housed continues to rise as a result of supply constraints. In spite of its critical role, few definitive studies have attempted to explore the dynamics of this tenurial system. This paper examines the nature of such 'family-housing', as it is known in the West African sub-region. Highlighting the contradictions inherent in this form of housing, the paper further attempts to predict the medium-term future of this form of tenure.