Life in a box: The rise of kiosk estate in Accra

By Fiifi NETTEY

After a long day’s work, everyone needs a place to rest and prepare for the next day. Yet for many hustling on the streets of Accra, decent accommodation remains out of reach due to the high cost of rent.

As a last resort, many of these folks are left with no choice than to sleep on the streets or find some unconventional ways. Popular among them is sleeping in what is widely known as ‘containers’ erected in street corners, especially in cities across the country.

In particular, the city of Accra is now experiencing a striking phenomenon that is reshaping urban living in response to escalating housing crisis. Wooden kiosks also known as (Koisk Estate) and containers have been littered all over the city, often overlooked during the day, but  come alive at night as homes for street hawkers, labourers and other struggling workers.

These structures, originally intended as “petite” shops for goods and services or storage units, are now doubling as makeshift “single rooms” for those priced out of the formal housing category. This trend, born  out of necessity, underscores deep-seated issues of housing inequality, increasing urban migration and the impact on social amenities such as electricity and water.  For many, these kiosks are not just shelters but a lifeline that is providing an abode to rest after a long day hustling on the streets of Accra.

Statistics made available by the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) indicate that Ghana’s national housing deficit is estimated at 2.6 million units as of January 2025, with Accra and other urban centres bearing the greatest burden due to rapid urbanisation and rural–urban migration.

Evidently, Accra’s housing deficit has reached critical levels in recent years, leaving low-income earners with few options. Formal housing, with its exorbitant rent and long-term payment demands, is out of reach for street hawkers, low-income earners and day labourers who earn meagre daily wages. The option is the wooden kiosks, available for rent on a daily or weekly basis, which have become a practical alternative for those who cannot afford even the most basic rooms.

Besides becoming dwelling places at night and during the day, they blend into the urban landscape. For many hawkers who spend their days selling goods or offering services, the kiosk is a place to rest their weary bodies, recharge and prepare for another day of toil. Curious about this phenomenon led me to observe activities in some of these containers in my neighbourhood. I observed that perhaps some of these kiosks are being used for other things rather than what are obvious to all.

I observed that as darkness settled, a young man discreetly entered the kiosk and closed the door behind him. Intrigued by what l saw, the next day in the morning, I went to his location and struck up a conversation with him. In our friendly chat, Kuku, (not real name) revealed that the kiosk was his nightly shelter, rented for a modest fee.

He did not mention the amount to me. For him, the arrangement was a practical compromise. The cost of renting a proper room or hostel in Accra was far beyond his means; and the kiosk, though cramped and lacking amenities, provided safety and privacy he couldn’t find on the streets. “If not for these kiosks,” he said, “many of us would be sleeping naked outside.”

Besides it’s disorder, renting out these makeshift homes have become a business for some. Owners, who operate their structures as small shops during the day, rent them out at night as an additional source of income. According to Kofi, the business is booming because many people cannot afford the huge advance rent demands of one to two years. With housing in Accra being so expensive, kiosks have become a “pay-as-you-go” alternative. “I charge between GH¢20 a day for a single kiosk and GH¢40 for a bigger one, depending on the size,” Kofi explained. “It’s a daily service—strictly pay as you go.”

However, the containers lack basic amenities such as water, electricity and toilets. These utilities are accessed elsewhere at an extra cost, often provided by other individuals. “It’s a cycle,” Kofi added, “and we are all playing our part for humanity.”

Kwame, a kiosk tenant, admitted that the structures are far from ideal but stressed that they meet a critical need—providing a temporary place to sleep until one can save enough to rent a proper room.

Dan, a taxi driver, explained that renting kiosks has become the norm because housing costs in Accra are beyond the reach of many hustlers. The demand for one- to two-year advance payments makes it nearly impossible for most street dwellers to afford proper accommodation, so kiosks have become their lifeline. He added that the wooden kiosks have even evolved into more advanced container-style rooms, which go for about GH¢300 a month. These upgraded spaces often include a small kitchen and electricity, though toilets and bathrooms remain shared facilities outside on the compound.

Nana Yaw explained that he chose to live in a kiosk because of its location. Since he works in town, it is more convenient for him to stay close to his workplace than to rent a room at the same price but much farther away. He added that his budget could only get him a room in a distant area; so for now, he prefers to live in a kiosk until he is able to earn more.

There is unanimous opinion that the government must intervene to stop the trend, as many kiosks are now being used for nefarious activities such as brothels—putting young women’s lives at risk—and also serve as hideouts for criminals. For many, the containers are becoming a growing nuisance in the city, questioning how politicians could talk about making Accra one of the world’s finest cities while kiosks remain littered everywhere.

An architect who requested anonymity observed that the growing use of kiosks as informal housing highlights both ingenuity and systemic failure. For kiosk owners, renting out these spaces has turned into a lucrative business, fuelled by rising demand—yet it remains exploitative of the vulnerable. Although daily or weekly payments may seem convenient for tenants compared to the high upfront costs of formal housing, the trend ultimately reflects the failure of political leaders to address the country’s housing needs.

He suggested that the government must invest in affordable housing units or even build hostels for low-income earners, which would help alleviate the problem to some extent. Nonetheless, he cautioned that this arrangement presents serious challenges. Most kiosk estates lack basic amenities such as running water, proper ventilation and sanitation facilities, thereby exposing residents to significant health risks and contributing to the rise of filth in the cities.

Crime is another concern, as the temporary nature of these structures makes it easy for occupants to harbour criminals who sometimes prey on vulnerable individuals who stray into their territory. Additionally, the lack of regulation means that these informal rentals operate in a legal gray area, with no protections for either renters or owners; and he believes that clearing these structures will make the city clean because these are the people who dirty the places.

The proliferation of kiosk estate  is a stark indicator of Accra’s housing crisis and a call to action for city authorities. While informal solutions like these address immediate needs, they are not sustainable in the long term. The absence of affordable housing options for low-income earners highlights systemic gaps in urban planning and governance.

These stories are a sobering reminder of how widespread this reality has become. Across Accra, countless kiosks, which might appear derelict to passersby, are homes for the city’s most vulnerable. Yet, even this form of shelters are out of reach for some, forcing many more to sleep on pavements or in front of shops in the opening. Tackling this challenge calls for a multi-faceted strategy.

The government must collaborate with estate developers such as GREDA to expand the supply of affordable housing while also regulating the use of kiosks for residential purposes. Public–private partnerships can be leveraged to deliver low-cost housing projects designed to meet the needs of the urban poor. At the same time, policies that empower small-scale entrepreneurs could enable many to move from precarious living conditions into more stable housing arrangements.

Accra’s housing crisis demands urgent and innovative responses. As the city continues to grow, the challenge will be to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of progress. For now, the kiosks stand as a testament to human adaptability in the face of adversity—a temporary fix to a problem that requires lasting solutions.

>>>the writer is a media consultant

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