An insight into development control in urban centres of Ghana; a study of Sekondi-Takoradi
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Date
MAY, 2015
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Abstract
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis has become the centre of attention in recent times due to the production of oil in commercial quantities beginning in 2007 in the Western Region of Ghana. The result has been an increase in population and land use activities in the metropolis. The question of how these increasing land use activities would be effectively controlled is a matter of concern. This study therefore sought to obtain valuable insights into the development control processes in the metropolis so that useful recommendations can be proffered in order to effectively control the increasing physical development activities.
The study adopted a combination of qualitative and quantitative research approach. The primary data used for the analyses were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and field observations. The unit of analysis for the questionnaires was landlords while heads of institutions were selected for the interviews.
The results suggest that the urban land has expanded tremendously. The residential land has increased from 52% in 2008 to 55% in 2014. The farmlands on the other hand have decreased from 30% in 2008 to 24% in 2014. To effectively handle the resultant increase in physical development activities, the Physical Planning Department has prepared various land use plans to control physical development. The results further show that 75% of respondents acquired development/building permits before the development of physical structures. However, the acquisition of occupancy and extension permits has been poor. The results again show that public participation in Physical Planning decisions has been limited to information giving at best. The collaboration among the various land use institutions has nevertheless been encouraging. Furthermore, the results revealed that the mainstream development control institutions (the Physical Planning Department and the Building Inspectorate Unit) are constrained in terms of staff and logistics and funds.
In view of these findings, major recommendations include the need for effective community participation in the preparation of development plans, intensive public sensitisation on development permit requirements and conditions, and increase in funding to the development control institutions.
It is hoped that effective implementation of the recommendations will adequately position the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to effectively control physical development in the face of the oil induced growth.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Department of Planning, Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Philosophy in Planning,