Policy think tank IMANI Ghana is backing local real estate developers in their efforts to pressure government to consider adopting local solutions to the country's housing problems.

The current housing deficit currently stands at 1.5 million housing units. The Ghana Real Estate Developers have been engaged in a war of words with government over a housing proposal they insist they submitted to the sector ministry, but claiming it was ignored.

Whilst Works and Housing Minister, E.T Mensah has denied the claims insisting GREDA failed to meet the financial requirements, Kofi Bentil Vice President of IMANI Ghana maintains local real estate firms have the capacity to deliver if only government will offer them the same support it gives to foreign firms.

Mr Bentil observed: "If government gives support including the guarantees, to our GREDA people, and I can say this on authority that when they give them the support they would be able to put up the houses.

"In other words I don't find any reason why we have to go outside this country to seek anything to build affordable housing."