Urban Sprawl or Urban Development? Peri-Urbanism in Metropolitan Areas of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

by Mikyas Abera, Nigussie Ahmedin and Bizunesh Muluneh ABSTRACT In Ethiopia, rapid urbanization has been transforming land-use regimes as cities regenerate and expand, incorporating peri-urban spaces and changing their physical and human landscapes. This study explores the challenges and opportunities of this transformation on peri-urban spaces in the Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) to inform […]

Economic Reforms and Health Conditions of the Urban Poor in Tanzania

by Joe L. P. Lugalla, University of New Hampshire “Since the human being is the centre of all development, the human condition is the only final measure of development. Improving that condition is essential for the poor and vulnerable human beings who comprise the majority of our peoples in Africa. Africa’s men and women are […]

Changes in Official Attitudes Towards Urban Agriculture in Accra

by Kwaku Obosu-Mensah Introduction Urbanization is increasing in African countries. In 2000 the United Nations reported that 38% of Africans lived in urban areas. This figure is expected increase to 55% by 2030. [1] Urbanization presents both opportunities and challenges, but indications for Africa are that the challenges outweigh the opportunities. Unlike many other parts of the […]

Poor Urban Communities and Municipal Interface in Ghana. A Case Study of Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

by George Owusu and Robert Lawrence Afutu-Kotey Abstract Like many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, is undergoing a rapid pace of urbanization associated with socio-economic, environmental, and institutional challenges for urban residents and local government authorities. Under Ghana’s laws, Metropolitan Assemblies (large city local governments) have overall responsibility for the development of their respective cities. This […]

When Necessity Begets Ingenuity: E-Waste Scavenging as a Livelihood Strategy in Accra, Ghana

by Martin Oteng-Ababio Abstract This paper describes how due to lack of formal job opportunities, e-waste scavenging has emerged as a major livelihood (survival) strategy for a rapidly growing urban population. It documents how the process has been fueled by neo-liberal economic policies adopted since 1983 that not only failed to create a “vibrant urban economy” […]

African Studies Quarterly

Tag: Urbanization