Review on Connecting the Complex Dots of Environmental Problems in Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) of Ghana

For years, Accra has been facing huge environmental challenges. Efficient policy frameworks coupled with prudent urban management are deemed as reasonable balance to environmental benefits. Research reveals urban areas in Ghana are confronted with the rapid loss of natural resources as urbanization increases. This synthesis report examines the ramifications of major issues faced by the Greater Accra region based on existing literature by (i) highlighting contemporary environmental problems in Accra (ii) probing into human-induced and natural factors that alterate environmental harmony in the study area (iii) discussing measures on safeguarding the environment through a sustainable approach in Accra, and (iv) presenting policy implications of environmental problems in Accra. Findings indicated urbanization, poverty and inappropriate urban planning systems influence environmental degradation in the study domain. Anthropogenic activities such as pollution and natural hazards like: flooding, drought and windstorms events have altered the physical properties of Accra. This paper reveals the assumption and execution of values to safeguard environmental resources in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area.

Disaster Risk Management: The Exercise of Power, Legitimacy and Urgency in Stakeholder Role in Ghana

Aim: Disasters continue to wreck both developed and developing countries, causing high mortality and suffering and damage to local economies and also impede development. Ghana is exposed to natural hazards, and the country’s susceptibility to these disasters has increased in both frequency and complexity over the years. This requires an understanding of disaster planning and resource allocation, legitimised in stakeholders who exercise power and urgency to manage and mitigate external uncertainties and internal complexities. The study aimed to examine the exercise of power, legitimacy, and urgency of stakeholders in disaster risk management in the Accra Metropolitan Area. Study Design: Qualitative case study design involving respondents purposively selected from Accra Metropolitan Area and local communities was employed. We used in-depth interviews and desk reviews of policy documents to assess stakeholder role in disaster risk management. We analysed the data using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis technique based on three principles of the stakeholder theory; power, legitimacy, and urgency, to advance our discussions on stakeholder role in disaster risk management. Results: The findings show that central government exercises high effective power, which serves as a strong basis for policy decisions but low precision and low urgency in responding to disaster risk management. At the local government level, the exercise of power and urgency to act appear ineffective despite a strong policy framework to guide disaster management. In addition, the exercise of power and legitimacy role appears low in the local communities. Conversely, urgency in addressing disaster risk management appears to be high among community members. Conclusion: This study contributes to the existing literature by suggesting structural and administrative reforms to stakeholder role in the management of disasters; central government remains a dominant stakeholder; local government agencies restructured to have a definitive role and the communities maintain their demanding role to hold local government agencies accountable. These reforms will establish a sharp, clear roadmap for the future and set into motion scenario planning for unanticipated disasters.

Assessing How Land-Cover Change Associated with Urbanisation Affects Ecological Sustainability in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Intensive land-cover changes (LCC) driven by unplanned urbanisation continue to threaten the sustainability of ecological assets in many cities in Africa. Evaluating the nature and processes of these changes is key to understanding the extent to which ecological instability may be affecting sustainability futures. This study employed integrated remote sensing, GIS, land accounting techniques and utilisation of high-resolution Quickbird and Worldview 2 images to analyse actual (2008–2017) and future (2017–2030) LCC and explored implications for ecological sustainability in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. After mapping and classifying actual LCC, multi-layer perception (MLP) neural network and Markov chain were employed to predict future LCC for the year 2030. The results indicate that the built-up area increased substantially from 27% in 2008 to 46% in 2017 and is expected to rise to 73% by 2030. In contrast, open-space (10%), forestlands (5%) and grassland/farmlands (49%) decreased progressively (2008–2030). In effect, these land-cover types experienced area turnover ˃100% during the actual and predicted period, indicating high vulnerability of natural land cover to urban growth, ecological degradation and resource depletion. These findings highlight significant implications of LCC for ecological sustainability in the study area. A proactive land-cover/use management plan is necessary to ensure sustainable urban development and ecological land conservation.