Housing transformation, rent gap and gentrification in Ghana’s traditional houses: Insight from compound houses in Bantama, Kumasi

Abstract

This paper investigates housing transformation, the rent gap and gentrification in compound houses in Bantama, a sub-metro in Ghana’s second-largest city, Kumasi. It argues that the ongoing housing transformation has altered the ‘classic’ features of compound houses, namely the dwelling unit, the use of shared space and the socio-demographic profile of households. It demonstrates that the physical transformation of compound houses predominantly involves the modification of dwelling units with shared facilities in compound houses into apartments where tenants have exclusive access to bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and electricity meters. Following such transformation, landlords obtain the rental power to capture at least 100 percent uplift in rents payable. There is evidence that the traditional form of housing that has, for many decades, provided shelter to low-income households is undergoing gentrification. The paper concludes by reflecting on the potential consequences of this transformation and makes a case for urgent policy intervention in the ongoing transformation of compound houses.

Keywords:

• Housing transformation
• compound house
• rent gap
• gentrification
• Kumasi

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 A local term which refers to accommodation with a bedroom and a hall

2 This included but not limited to one’s hairstyle, facial make-up, clothing labels, sense of fashion. One’s appearance could easily send a wrong message to the landlords, which may be contrary to reality.

3 Rates were originally in Ghana Cedis. We adopted Bank of Ghana Daily Interbank FX Rates of US$1 = 5.5403, as of 18 December, 2019. These rates are used in subsequent conversions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lewis Abedi Asante

Lewis Abedi Asante is a Lecturer at the Department of Estate Management, Kumasi Technical University, Ghana. He holds a PhD in Geography and an MSc in Urbanisation and Development from Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany and London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom respectively. His research interests include urban governance, market redevelopment, housing and urban regeneration.

Richmond Juvenile Ehwi

Richmond Juvenile Ehwi is a Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR) in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He obtained both his PhD and MPhil from the same department and university. He researches gated communities and new cities, housing markets and housing policy, land administration, stakeholder engagement in smart cities, and digital innovations in construction.