Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Urbanisation of Hope or Despair? Urban Planning Dilemma in Ghana

  • Published:
Urban Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Our reflections on recent treatment of African urbanisation begins with the assertion that implicit recognition and acceptance of “rapid urbanisation” as a legitimate and primary cause of urban management challenges—e.g. poverty, slum development, haphazard development, etc.—has impoverished the appreciation of other fundamental causes of poor urban functionality in Ghanaian cities. This article argues that urban planning practice in Ghana has contributed to the many urbanisation challenges in Ghanaian cities, yet remains critical if rapid urbanisation is to be effectively managed. The article provides some useful policy directions to managing rapid urbanisation in Ghana.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abubakar, I. R. (2014). Abuja City profile. Cities, 41, 81–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Accra Planning & Development Programme, (1985). Strategic plan for the greater Accra metropolitan area (Volume 1). Prepared by Accra Planning & Development Programme in association with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Retrieved 21/03/2016 from: http://mci.ei.columbia.edu/files/2013/03/AMA-Strategic-Plan-vol-1.pdf (Retrieved 16/06/2016).

  • Accra Planning & Development Programme, (1991). Strategic plan for the greater Accra metropolitan area (Volume 2). Prepared by Accra Planning & Development Programme in association with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Retrieved 21/03/2016 from: http://mci.ei.columbia.edu/files/2013/03/AMA-Strategic-Plan-vol-2.pdf (Retrieved 16/06/2016).

  • Accra Planning & Development Programme, (1992). Strategic plan for the greater Accra metropolitan area (Volume 3). Prepared by Accra Planning & Development Programme in association with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Retrieved 21/03/2016 from: http://mci.ei.columbia.edu/files/2013/03/AMA-strategic-plan-vol-3.pdf (Retrieved 16/06/2016).

  • Adarkwa, K. K. (2012). The changing face of Ghanaian towns. African Review of Economics and Finance, 4(1), 1–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amoako, C., & Cobbinah, P. B. (2011). Slum improvement in the Kumasi metropolis: review of results and approaches. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(8), 150–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amoateng, P., Cobbinah, P. B., & Owusu-Adade, K. (2013). Managing physical development in peri-urban areas of Kumasi, Ghana: a case of Abuakwa. Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering, 7(1), 96–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amoateng, P., Cobbinah, P.B. & Ofori-Kumah, K. (2014). Towards creation of sustainable enclaves for small and medium-size enterprises in Kumasi, Ghana. International Journal of Social, Human Science and Engineering, 8(1), 333–341.

  • Awumbila, M., Owusu, G. & Teye, J.K. (2014). Can rural-urban migration into slums reduce poverty? Evidence from Ghana. Migrating Out of Poverty Working Paper 13, University of Sussex. Retrieved 12/03/2016 from: http://migratingoutofpoverty.dfid.gov.uk/files/file.php?name=wp-13---awumbila-owusu-teye-2014-can-rural-urban-migration-into-slums-reduce-poverty-final.pdf&site=354

  • Bloom, D. E., & Khanna, T. (2007). The urban revolution: rapid urbanisation may prove a blessing provided the world takes notice and plans accordingly. Finance and Development, 44(3), 9–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., & Fink, G. (2008). Urbanisation and the wealth of nations. Science, 319(5864), 772–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boadi, K., Kuitunen, M., Raheem, K., & Hanninen, K. (2005). Urbanisation without development: environmental and health implications in African cities. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 7, 465–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockerhoff, M., & Brennan, E. (1998). The poverty of cities in developing regions. Population and Development Review, 24(1), 75–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B. (2015). Local attitudes towards natural resources management in rural Ghana. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 26(3), 423–436. doi:10.1108/MEQ-04-2014-0061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B., & Amoako, C. (2012). Urban sprawl and the loss of peri-urban land in Kumasi, Ghana. International Journal of Social and Human Sciences, 6, 388–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B., & Darkwah, R. M. (2016a). African urbanism: the geography of urban greenery. Urban Forum, 27(2), 149–165. doi:10.1007/s12132-016-9274-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B. & Darkwah, R. M. (2016b). Toward a more desirable form of sustainable urban development in Africa. African Geographical Review, 1-24, doi: 10.1080/19376812.2016.1208770

  • Cobbinah, P. B., & Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. O. (2016). Urbanisation in Ghana: insights and implications for urban governance. In U. G. Benna & S. B. Garba (Eds.), Population growth and rapid urbanisation in the developing world (pp. 82–104). United States of America: IGI Global.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B., & Korah, P. I. (2015). Religion gnaws urban planning: the geography of places of worship in Kumasi, Ghana. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/19463138.2015.1074581

  • Cobbinah, P. B., Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. O., & Amoateng, P. (2015a). Rethinking sustainable development within the framework of poverty and urbanisation in developing countries. Environmental Development, 13, 18–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobbinah, P. B., Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. O., & Amoateng, P. (2015b). Africa’s urbanisation: implications for sustainable development. Cities, 47(0), 62-72. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2015.03.013

  • Cobbinah, P. B., Gaisie, E., & Owusu-Amponsah, L. (2015c). Peri-urban morphology and indigenous livelihoods in Ghana. Habitat International, 50, 120-129. doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.08.002

  • Cohen, B. (2006). Urbanisation in developing countries: current trends, future projections, and key challenges for sustainability. Technology in Society, 28, 63–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaw, K., Nnkya, T., & Watson, V. (2002). Planning education in Sub-Saharan Africa: responding to the demands of a changing context. Planning Practice and Research, 17, 337–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuseini, I., & Kemp, J. (2015). A review of spatial planning in Ghana’s socio-economic development trajectory: a sustainable development perspective. Land Use Policy., 47, 309–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, R. (2009). Globalising city: the urban and economic transformation of Accra, Ghana. New York, NY: Syracuse University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • GSS. (2005). Policy implications of population trends data. Population Data Analysis Reports Volume 2. Accra, Ghana: GSS

  • GSS. (2012). 2010 population and housing census. Summary report of final results. GSS, Sakoa Press Limited, Accra, Ghana

  • GSS. (2013). 2010 population and housing census: national analytical report. Accra: GSS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamza, M., & Zetter, R. (2000). Reconceiving the knowledge-base of planning education in the developing world. Third World Planning Review, 22, 433–455. doi:10.3828/twpr.22.4.l1672m715555p343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, R. D. (1996). Cities of despair. New York Times (7 June), New York, USA.

  • Kennedy, P. (1993). Preparing for the twenty-first century. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laryea-Adjei, G. (2000). Building capacity for urban management in Ghana: some critical considerations. Habitat International, 24(4), 391–401. doi:10.1016/S0197-3975(00)00005-9.

  • Leith, J. C. (1974). Growth factors. In J. C. Leith (Ed.), Foreign trade regimes and economic development: Ghana (Vol. 2, pp. 81–108). New York: UMI. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/chapters/c4121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabogunje Akin, L. (2005). Global urban poverty research agenda: the African case. Paper presented at a seminar on “Global Urban Poverty: Setting the Research Agenda” organised by the Comparative Urban Studies Project of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and held in Washington DC on December 15, 2005. https://www.citiesalliance.org/sites/citiesalliance.org/files/mabogunjepaper%5B1%5D.pdf (Retrieved 23/09/2015).

  • Misilu, M. N. E., Shouyu, C., & Li Qin, Z. (2010). Sustainable urbanisation’s challenge in Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Sustainable Development, 3(2), 242–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muluka, B. (2002). Abuja sets best example of city planning—start afresh. Sunday Standard Newspaper, Nairobi Kenya, May, 2002, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeng-Odoom, F. (2010). ‘Abnormal’ urbanisation in Africa: a dissenting view. African Geographical Review, 29(2), 13–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obeng-Odoom, F., & Amedzro, L. (2011). Inadequate housing in Ghana. Urbani Izziv, 22(1), 127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oberai, A. S. (1993). Population growth, employment and poverty in third-world mega-cities. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Okpala, D. (2009). Regional overview of the status of urban planning and planning practice in Anglophone (Sub-Saharan) African countries. Regional study prepared for ‘Revisiting Urban Planning: Global Report on Human Settlements. http://unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/GRHS.2009.Regional.Anglophone.Africa.pdf (Retrieved 22/ 05/2015).

  • Owusu, G. (2015). Decentralised development planning and fragmentation of metropolitan regions: the case of the greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. Ghana Journal of Geography, 7(1), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owusu, G., & Oteng-Ababio, M. (2015). Moving unruly contemporary urbanism. Toward sustainable urban development in Ghana by 2030. American Behavioral Scientist, 59(3), 311–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potts, D. (2009). The slowing of sub-Saharan Africa’s urbanisation: evidence and implications for urban livelihoods. Environment and Urbanisation, 21, 253–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potts, D. (2012). Whatever happened to Africa’s rapid urbanisation? (Counterpoint Series). London, England: Africa Research Institute. Retrieved from http://africaresearchinstitute.org/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Whatever-happened-to-Africas-rapidurbanisation.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quarcoopome, S. S. (1993). A history of the urban development of Accra: 1877-1957. Research Review, 9(1-2), 20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravallion, M., Chen, S., & Sangraula, P. (2007). The urbanisation of global poverty. Background paper to the World Development Report 2008, World Bank, Washington, DC.

  • Songsore, J. (2009). The urban transition in Ghana: urbanisation, national development and poverty reduction. A study prepared for the IIED as part of its eight country case studies on urbanization: University of Ghana, Accra.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDESA/PD. (2012). World urbanisation prospects: the 2011 revision. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, V. (2009). Seeing from the South: refocusing urban planning on the globe’s central urban issues. Urban Studies, 46(11), 2259–2275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, S. (1970). Some problems of town and country planning in Africa. J. Legal Plur. Unoff. Law, 2(3), 77–95. doi:10.1080/07329113.1970.10756156.

  • World Bank. (2015). Ghana Urbanisation Review Overview Report, April 2015. Washington: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. Rising through cities in Ghana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yankson, P. W. K., Kofie, R. Y., & Lasse, M. (2004). Monitoring urban growth: urbanisation of the fringe areas of Accra. Working Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeboah, E. & Obeng-Odoom, F. (2010). “We are not the only ones to blame”: District Assemblies’ perspectives on the state of planning in Ghana. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, (7). November, 78–98.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment Society and Design, Lincoln University, PO Box 85084, Lincoln 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Patrick Brandful Cobbinah

  2. Institute for Land Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, 2640, NSW, Australia

    Patrick Brandful Cobbinah

  3. Department of Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Michael Poku-Boansi

  4. Urban and Regional Studies Institute, Minnesota State University Mankato, 106B Morris Hall, Mankato, 56001, USA

    Raymond Asomani-Boateng

Authors
  1. Patrick Brandful Cobbinah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Poku-Boansi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Raymond Asomani-Boateng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick Brandful Cobbinah.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cobbinah, P.B., Poku-Boansi, M. & Asomani-Boateng, R. Urbanisation of Hope or Despair? Urban Planning Dilemma in Ghana. Urban Forum 27, 415–432 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-016-9293-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-016-9293-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation