Ghana is set to host the 2026 edition of the Africa Real Estate Festival (AREF), a major continental platform aimed at reshaping conversations around urban development, investment, and sustainable living in Africa.
Scheduled for April 18 and 19, 2026, in Accra, the festival will be held under the theme “Innovation Meets Identity: Designing Africa’s Next Living Experience – Positioning Real Estate as More Than Just Property.” The event is expected to bring together policymakers, developers, investors, architects, planners, financial institutions, prop-tech innovators, and diaspora stakeholders from across Africa and the global African community.
Speaking at the press launch held in Accra on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AREF, Desmond Oteng, described the festival as a movement rather than a one-off event, driven by the realities of Africa’s rapid urbanisation. He noted that Africa is urbanising faster than any other continent, with projections indicating that by 2050, more than 1.4 billion Africans will be living in cities.
According to him, real estate discussions on the continent must move beyond buildings and pricing to focus on people, quality of life, sustainability, and inclusive growth. He explained that AREF seeks to reposition real estate as a catalyst for economic transformation, climate responsibility, cultural identity, youth empowerment, diaspora engagement, and sustainable urban development.
Although the 2026 festival will be hosted in Ghana, Mr. Oteng emphasised that AREF is designed as a continental platform, with plans to expand into other African countries in the years ahead. He stressed the need for intentional city building, warning against unplanned urban expansion and isolated gated developments. Instead, he called for connected communities and functional urban ecosystems that truly serve the needs of people.
The festival is expected to host over 1,500 delegates, more than 100 exhibitors from over 30 countries, and 50 renowned speakers, with strong government and diaspora representation. The programme aims to position real estate as a driver of cultural expression, technological innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
International interest in AREF was highlighted by the participation of Her Excellency Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, who announced Barbados’ involvement in the festival. She described AREF as a practical bridge between diplomacy, investment, and sustainable development, noting that real estate today encompasses entire ecosystems, capital flows, lifestyle assets, and long-term value creation.
She shared Barbados’ experience, where real estate contributes approximately 18 percent of national GDP, supported by political stability, clear legal frameworks, progressive tax policies, and strong community education. According to her, this model offers valuable lessons for Ghana and other African coastal states, particularly in areas such as tourism-linked real estate, coastal conservation, health tourism, retirement living, and sustainable community planning. She also revealed growing interest among Barbadian and Caribbean investors in Ghana, following increased travel and enquiries about property ownership.
From the government’s perspective, the Deputy Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President, Nana Kyere Agyemang, outlined Ghana’s evolving strategy to deepen diaspora participation in the real estate sector. He explained that the focus is shifting from informal remittances toward structured investment and long-term asset creation.
He identified three key priority areas: capital market integration through real estate investment trusts and diaspora bonds, improved regulatory transparency through digital land governance, and sustainability under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework. He further noted plans to incentivise commercial real estate developments that serve as logistics hubs for intra-African trade. Mr. Agyemang commended the AREF team for their commitment and reaffirmed government openness to partnerships that strengthen Ghana’s real estate ecosystem.
AREF’s unique model bridges real estate with sectors such as technology, finance, tourism, logistics, media, and culture, creating a shared platform for collaboration and investment. The festival will feature a carefully curated programme including an Investment and Policy Conference, a Real Estate Exhibition and Diaspora Investment Pavilion, a Luxury Experience and Lifestyle Showcase, and a Cultural Festival and Innovation Matchmaking segment.
These core components will be supported by interactive workshops, live demonstrations, and structured networking forums designed to deliver practical and actionable outcomes for participants. With a target of generating over 200 million dollars in investment leads, AREF aims to boost investor confidence and stimulate cross-sector deals. The festival will also produce the AREF Report 2026, a data-driven publication highlighting real estate trends and opportunities across Africa.
Beyond 2026, organisers plan to expand AREF into a continent-wide circuit with regional editions focused on sustainable urban innovation, economic collaboration, and cultural celebration. The festival is organised by the pan-African organisation Africa Real Estate Festival and is supported by year-round initiatives in research, prop-tech acceleration, policy advocacy, and networking.
High-level speakers expected at the forum include Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, Emmanuel Jeffrey, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Agency Council, and Desmond Kwesi Oteng, Team Lead, among others.
For further information, contact +233 0598966252 or visit www.africarealestatefestival.com.
Follow Africa Live News on its official platforms for updates and more stories:
Website
https://www.africalivenews.com
X
https://x.com/africalivenews2
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Africalivenews
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/africalivenews
