Urbanisation in Accra has not yielded the expected benefits, with rapid population growth intensifying the city’s housing crisis, according to Dr Daniel Odoom, a Senior Lecturer and Development Communication Specialist at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC).
Speaking on Bullet TV’s Morning Target, Dr Odoom highlighted urbanisation’s challenges, particularly in transportation, sanitation, and housing.
With Accra’s urban population currently at 4.2 million and growing at a rate of 3.3% annually, the city continues to grapple with a significant housing deficit.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 1.3 million people reside in slums.
This situation, Dr Odoom says, is a direct consequence of ineffective urban planning and limited efforts by city authorities to address housing shortages.
“A lot of things are not working. The impact of urbanisation hasn’t been good,” he told Seli Acolatse Apaloo who co-hosts the morning show with Nana Kweku Aduah, adding: “There is a lot of housing construction going on, but at the macro-level, whether city officials are making frantic efforts to solve housing problems, not much is happening there. That is why we have so many slums scattered all over the city.”
Dr. Odoom also pointed to the difficulties associated with land acquisition as a key factor exacerbating Accra’s housing crisis.
“Not everyone has what it takes to buy land. Records have it that close to 80% of lands in Accra are owned by stools, families, and individuals, with the government owning only about 15 to 20%. So, land acquisition is a herculean task, and the city authorities are not making frantic efforts to solve the housing problem.”
Dr Odoom stressed that without a comprehensive approach to urban planning, land management, and affordable housing solutions, the city will continue to see an expansion of informal settlements, and worsening living conditions for many residents.
