A housing crisis is unfolding in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region as government workers—particularly health professionals—struggle to afford soaring rent costs, threatening the district’s already strained healthcare delivery.
In interviews with the Ghana News Agency at Nkrankwanta, the district capital, health workers revealed that rent for a single room has reached alarming levels—now pegged at not less than GHC7,000 per year, making it difficult for many to remain in their postings.
The exodus of staff has begun, according to Mr. Daniel Owusu-Amponsah, Dormaa West District Director of Health Services. “Some critical personnel have already left due to the rent burden. It’s affecting our staff strength and ultimately, health service delivery in the district,” he disclosed.
While landlords cite rising building material costs as justification for the increases—pointing to sand and gravel prices now ranging from GHC1,200 to GHC1,500 per trip—community leaders are urging restraint and compassion.
Nana Takyi Peprah, sub-chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, appealed to landlords to consider the greater impact of their decisions. “Health workers are here to serve us. We need them. Let’s not make their lives so difficult that they leave.”
He warned that if left unchecked, the housing challenge could deter new postings and paralyse basic health and government services in the cocoa-growing town.
In response, Mr. Stephen Azorba Awuni, the Dormaa West District Chief Executive, announced that the Assembly—working with Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, MP for the area—plans to roll out a 10,000-unit housing project to address the crisis. He, however, urged public servants to “remain patient as efforts to fix the problem begin.”
Meanwhile, calls are mounting for interim interventions—such as subsidised housing for health workers or emergency accommodation relief—before the district suffers a deeper brain drain in its public service workforce.
