AREF 2026: Housing Ministry, Nilex, Goldkey, REAC chart new path

Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, declared on Saturday, April 18, in Accra that "Africa's next housing and urban development must deliver affordability, liveability and resilience, and that innovation must never come at the cost of identity." He challenged stakeholders to rethink real estate beyond land and buildings. He noted that in Ghana, the private sector delivers nearly 90% of housing, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.

The two-day event (April 18-19, 2026) was organized by AREF in collaboration with Nilex Properties, Goldkey Properties, the Ministry of Works & Housing and the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) under the theme "Innovation Meets Identity: Designing Africa's Next Living Experience." Desmond Kwesi Oteng, AREF Founder and CEO, challenged the 1,500 delegates with the question: "Who builds Africa?" The Real Estate Agency Council warned of the absolute ban on cash transactions under the Real Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1027) to eliminate fraud and money laundering.

Alex Kofi Osei-Owusu, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director of Nilex Properties, shared the story of the company's 19-storey ocean-front development.