ArchiAfrika-April-Magazine-English-final-v2

Image Credit: Sean Blaschke
Some projections have it that in around 20
year’s time, nearly 50% of Ghana’s entire
population could be living in the Greater
Accra Region alone. There is clearly a need for
fresh thinking regarding housing and urban
development.
On current trends, the politicians, urban
planners, mayors and policemen are simply
fighting a losing battle. The growth and
deepening of democracy in Africa means that
increasingly the informal settlements- call
them slums or ghettos or shantytowns- will
be where politicians will have to go looking
for rich harvests of electoral votes.
The successful addressing of the issue
requires fresh economic thinking coupled
with concerted efforts through public-private
partnerships to address the central economic
issues of:
1. Infrastructural development addressing the
issues of water, electricity, sanitation roads,
housing
2. Skills development with a focus on technical
and vocational training
3. Agricultural transformation to raise
agricultural productivity and incomes
In many ways the informal economy and
informal urban settlements will determine the
economic futures of countries like Ghana and
Nigeria. How well a country does depends on
how well the majority of the population does.
If the majority has access to productive skills,
work and incomes and can pay taxes to pay
for services, the economy has a chance of
thriving. If not then anyone’s guess could be
as good as mine.
©Gilbert Nii-Okai Addy
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