A research into slums and informal settlements development towards making Ghana's cities resilient

The report examines the development of slums in Ghana, specifically within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA). It identifies key drivers such as rural-urban migration, poverty, and systemic policy failures in housing. The study highlights the negative impacts of slums on child development, public health, and urban security, while also noting the potential for economic contributions through informal recycling and food services. It argues that the Ghana National Housing Policy is weak and fails to specifically address slums or cultural norms. The report recommends against forced evictions, calling instead for coordinated stakeholder collaboration, the upgrading of existing settlements, and a comprehensive revision of national housing policy to foster urban resilience.

• The primary drivers of slum formation in Ghana include social factors like rural-urban migration and natural population increase, economic factors such as joblessness and the inability to afford decent housing, and cultural norms where people prefer to live in close proximity to family and friends.
• Systemic failures in government housing and the non-continuity of policies when administrations change have contributed to slum growth. Specifically, the report cites the failure to implement the 'Accra-Korle Lagoon Recreational Area Planning Scheme' approved in 1970, which allowed the Old Fadama area to become a slum.
• Slums negatively impact child development by exposing children to drugs, prostitution, and robbery, and by limiting access to education; over 90% of children in the studied slums were either not attending school or lacked nearby facilities.
• Poor sanitation and inadequate housing in slums lead to significant health issues, with high reported rates of malaria, typhoid, pneumonia, and foot rot among residents in both the AMA and STMA.
• Slums present significant security and safety risks, including high crime rates and extreme fire hazards due to high density, illegal electrical wiring, and lack of emergency access routes.
• Environmental pollution is exacerbated by slum activities, particularly the burning of electronic waste in Old Fadama, which emits thick smoke that affects air quality and potentially agricultural produce.
• The Ghana National Housing Policy is assessed as weak because it does not specifically mention slums, fails to recognize cultural social norms as housing challenges, and contains contradictions regarding private sector participation versus affordability for the poor.
• Slum dwellers face severe exploitation by landlords, with some reporting rents that are twice as high as those in non-slum areas despite the deplorable condition of the housing.
• Despite their negative associations, slums provide essential economic services to cities, such as the production of local nutritious foods and the recycling of electronic and automobile waste.
• The report recommends that city authorities avoid forced evictions, as they worsen the plight of the poor, and instead focus on strategic partnerships with the private sector to create 'affordable communities' rather than just affordable housing.
• There is a critical lack of coordination among the various NGOs, donor agencies (such as the World Bank and UN-Habitat), and government bodies implementing slum interventions, leading to duplicated efforts and limited impact.

APA

Adamtey, D. R., Adjei-Kumi, M. G., & Oduro, D. C. Y. (2018). A research into slums and informal settlements development towards making Ghana's cities resilient. Good Governance Africa. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/SLUMS-RESEARCH-UPDATED-final-18.12.18.pdf

Chicago

Adamtey, Dr. Ronald, Mrs. Gifty Adjei-Kumi, and Dr. Charles Yaw Oduro. A research into slums and informal settlements development towards making Ghana's cities resilient. Good Governance Africa, 2018. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/SLUMS-RESEARCH-UPDATED-final-18.12.18.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Adamtey |first1=Dr. Ronald |last2=Adjei-Kumi |first2=Mrs. Gifty |last3=Oduro |first3=Dr. Charles Yaw |title=A research into slums and informal settlements development towards making Ghana's cities resilient |publisher=Good Governance Africa |date=October 2018 |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/SLUMS-RESEARCH-UPDATED-final-18.12.18.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{adamtey2018research, author = {Adamtey, Dr. Ronald and Adjei-Kumi, Mrs. Gifty and Oduro, Dr. Charles Yaw}, title = {{A research into slums and informal settlements development towards making Ghana's cities resilient}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2020/05/SLUMS-RESEARCH-UPDATED-final-18.12.18.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }