CHANGING THE FACE OF SLUMS IN GHANA

The partnership between People Dialogue, Ghana (PD Ghana) , Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor and Tema Ashaiman Slum Upgrading Fund (TAMSUF) is slowly finding new ways to improving slum settlements in Ghana.

With one step at a time the collaboration between key stakeholders and the members of the Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor, at the heart of Amui Djor slum in the Ashaiman Municipality has lifted the confidence of many slum dwellers in Ashaiman. Federation members say they will forever remain grateful to the stakeholders of the Tema Ashaiman Municipal Slum Upgrading (TAMSUF) Fund, since the project has enabled some of its members to acquire low income houses.

Mr. Emmanuel Zonyra, a leading member of the federation was happy that the project has lifted their hopes to believe that it is possible for the Urban Poor to upgrade their housing. “Through this project we realized that we can help ourselves with daily savings to acquire a better housing and we will forever remain grateful to the stakeholders”, Mr. Zonyra stated in an interview.   

 “Our incomes would not permit us to access bank loan to build houses but with this facility and our daily contributions we are getting the houses so they are helping us a lot and we are very grateful to all the stakeholders”, he continued.

The Tema Ashaiman Municipal Slum Upgrading Fund is a UN HABITAT Slum Upgrading Facility (SUF) seed capital project. The facility which includes fifteen shops and a block of public toilets and bathing facility on the ground floor provides commercial subsidy to ensure affordability for the low income community members. TAMSUF provided construction financing and actively working with local banks to secure take-out financing.

So far twenty six out of 31 members of the federation who have made various contributions towards the acquisition of the houses have moved into their new houses and the remaining five families are expected to move into their residence soon. 

Ashaiman remains one of the fastest growing urban communities in West Africa with an estimated population of 150,312 (2000census) with females forming about 60% far higher than the national average of 52%. More than half of the population lives in wooden structures with deplorable sanitary conditions.

Mr. Farouk Braimah, the Executive Director of the People’s Dialogue, Ghana (PDG) is however, happy that the TAMSUF pilot project is a model that would encourage more community members to work towards upgrading their houses. “We have learnt lessons that go beyond the project and these lessons would guide us in our future engagements with key stakeholders including city authorities”, he added.