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PhD RESEARCH PROPOSAL (ENVIRONMENT) Topic Sustainable urbanization in

Ghana: The role of integrated land use planning

Research Proposal · March 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28734.23368

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 PhD RESEARCH PROPOSAL

(ENVIRONMENT)

Topic

Sustainable urbanization in Ghana: The role of integrated land use planning

By

FREDRICK AHENKORA BOAMAH

 1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Rapid urbanization is with an undisputable fact the most complex and important socio-economic

phenomenon of the 20th Century. In the beginning of the third millennium, most third world

countries faced a trend of high urbanization rates. According to Naess (2001), especially in the

developing countries, urban growth has taken a spot in an unsustainable manner, with an

incidental degradation of the attribute of the environment and the haphazard conversion of the

agricultural land into built-up areas within the cities (Rana and Marwasta, 2015). This

urbanization is an irreversible trend. The challenges associated with urbanization is the inability

to meet demand for infrastructure and services whilst facing economic challenges of large urban

areas without the common benefits coupled with economic challenges (Dodman et a., 2016).

Problems associated with urbanization are inadequate access to drinking water, poor sanitation, a

high demand for the acquisition of land for development which is usually obtained through

unscrupulous means or dubious means, rapid urbanisation is providing chaotic scenes,

environmental degradation, worsening poverty conditions, over-stretching the capacity of

existing infrastructure, and exposing urbanites to environmental hazards particularly flooding

(Adarkwa 2012; Amoateng et al. 2013; Cobbinah et al. 2015b; Lwasa 2014; Nwaka 2005). Fast

urbanization in developing countries has caused different challenges in spite of the different

merits of urbanization which includes industrialization that’s directs to the availability of social

comfort and employment (UN Habitat, 2009). Residential housing and other commercial

activities has taken over the agricultural land as a result of urbanization. McCann (2011) also

stated that, anytime a country decides to develop its urban center, there is the need to have

intense policy indications and attributes in order to exercise power over them. Gyasi et al. (2006)

argues the pressing need for competent management of land in the event of the increase in

population and the growth of demand in all land based activities. For instance, in developing
countries, rapid urbanization, coupled with changing climate, is frequently reported as

compelling rural residents to migrate to cities and settle in areas that are highly prone to flooding

(Jha et al. 2011; World Bank 2015). They further added that the fact of insufficient staff, tools

and equipment in the agencies responsible for the management of urban lands therefore brings

about indiscipline in land acquisition. Also Karikari (2006) opined that the insufficient staff is

even unable to provide and produce adequate documents and record keeping which brings about

high urbanization. The increases in urban population proportion have an impact on physical

urban areas (Rana and Marwasta, 2015). The UN (2001) predicts that about 3 billion of world’s

population will live in urban areas by 2050. Facing the growth of urban population and its

activities continuously, the uncontrolled spread of urban areas requires some early anticipation,

because it will generate a wide variety of negative impacts on many human life dimensions like

environment, social and economic (Glass, 1996). There is the need to adopt a proactive disaster

management which requires participation from various organizations of governments,

nongovernment, private sectors, and local communities (Tingsanchali, 2012). In developing

countries, the effects of flood are more harmful than in developed countries. This makes it more

necessary to make a system which can provide advance warning of flooding (Kuantama et al.,

n.d). The urban dwellers are often exposed to localized floods by absence or inadequacy of

drains, flooding of streams or major rivers, seasonal floods and landslides (Action Aid, 2006;

Dodman and Satterwaite, 2008).

Roy (2009) concluded that the best way to incorporate sustainability with urbanisation is through

defining a desirable state for an urban area and then finding ways to achieve that state all through

the notion of urban sustainability. The implementation of sustainable urbanization places an

emphasis on planning dimensions including land-use, transporatation, local economic

development and urban justice (Wheeler and Beatley, 2004) combined within a strategic

framework. Alliance, 2004; De V Borges & Sahay, 2000; Navone, 2000; UN-Habitat, 2001).

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Africa is urbanizing at a rate of 4% per year, according to UN-Habitat, the United Nations

agency tasked with assisting national programs relating to human settlements through the

provision of capital and technical assistance, particularly in developing countries (Joan, 2016).

This means that the economies of the developing countries will need to grow at a consistently

high rate in order to cope with the rate of urbanization. They were normally treated as separate

entities. Fekade (2000) stated that the existing urban management policies and practices are ill-

prepared to meet the ever increasing demand for shelter and livable environment in the 21 st

century. Majority of the environmental problems are connected to rapid urbanization. Managers,

planners and decision makers must understand the relation between nature and human activities.

There is the need to understand the effect of urbanization on events that occur naturally in order

to stop natural events from extending to natural disasters. According to United Nations (2011),

7.4 billion people are projected to be urban dwellers in 2050. Alberti et al, (2003) also stated that

urbanization has an important influence on the cause of change in land, which does not only

affect developed countries but also developing countries. Kaya et al, (2006), stated that, the

outcome of loss in important agricultural land is as the results of the fast space in

industrialization and urbanization. The intense environmental effects are as a results of lack of

competent use of land and the departure of agricultural land as a whole (Sunar and Ozkan 2001).

In many of these countries with weak urban planning institutions and high urban poverty levels

(see Cobbinah et al. 2015b), urbanisation induced-flood events have become a regular

occurrence, affecting urbanites, urbanism and urban functionality (Amoako 2012; Scott et al.

2013). The need therefore arises for authorities to have a second look at providing housing with
the aim of achieving reaping the benefits of sustainable urbanization. Urbanization in developing

countries like Ghana, if not tackled from the aspect of housing can be a very grave detriment to

the society.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to understand the exploration, challenges and opportunities of integrated land

use planning as a means of achieving sustainable urbanization.

OBJECTIVES

1. To examine and review the relationship between sustainability and urbanization.

2. To establish the underlying risk factors confronting integrated land use planning.

3. To establish the underpinning factors confronting the integrated land use planning

under sustainable urbanization.

4. To develop a framework for the successful adaptation of integrated land use planning

as a means of sustainable urbanization.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

It is necessary to have a national urban policy in order to transform these endangered urban cities

into a more sustainable one free from disasters. Urbanization can be seen as an opportunity more

than a challenge. This is because urbanization goes hand in hand with development and if done

well can promote the development of developing countries.

METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH STRATEGY

It is of great importance to define research from start to finish. As indicated by Denzin and

Lincoln 2000a:371, research strategy therefore connects the researcher to accurate and specific

methods and approaches for collecting and analyzing data.

Data Sources and Sampling Techniques Both primary and secondary sources of data would be

used for the project. The sources of primary data would be collected from stakeholders in the

built environment like NADMO, Building Experts, Town and Country Planning, Ministry of

Water Resource, Works and Housing, Ghana Real Estates Developers Association, Ghana

Institute of Housing and through consultation with senior academics in Ghana and other African

countries.

Other organisations and departments within the government sector and agencies whose work is

related to planning and urbanization will afford the researcher the opportunity of appreciating the

task of data collection and the interplay of institutional, economic and policy environments.

These departments and agencies included:

 Land commision

 Town and country planning

 Factory Inspectorate

 Ministry of gender

 Environmental Protection Agency

 Development control unit

 Ministry of Health;

 Ghana Employers’ Association;

  Architectural and Engineering Services Limited

 Ghana Highways Authority;

Data Collection would be done through interviews and questionnaire administration. Sampling

Design

The sampling design to be used, will be the combination of stratified random, simple random and

purposive sampling methods. Stratified random sampling is the act of subdividing the entire

population into strata and the researcher drawing samples randomly from each stratum (Neuman

2000:208). A simple random sampling is where every individual in the sampling frame has an

equal chance of being selected as part of the sample (McGrew and Monroe, 2000:89). With

purposive sampling, specific units are intentionally selected to form part of the sample.

Purposive sampling method would be adopted for conducting and administering the interviews

and questionnaires respectively. The reliability of data collected through primary sources would

be tested using the Cronch Alpha which is a statistical tool (Girden and Kabacoff, 2011)

Research Approach

In order to conduct a thorough research, the aims and objectives would be addressed by adopting

the appropriate epistemological and ontological approach to help in the collection of the required

data followed by the analysis and interpretation of the findings. Due to the nature of the research,

there would be a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methodological approach. Blaikie (2003)

stated that data obtained quantitatively commonly begin in words which are converted into

numeric data, subjected into different levels of statistical manipulation and are described back in

both numbers and words that is from words to numbers and back to words. The qualitative

research method is to establish an appreciation of the existing sustainable disaster mitigation

(Opperman, 2016). The data collection process is described as being intensive, very detailed
study involving the collection of larger quantities of data form a small number of respondents

and settings (Gilham, 2004). In qualitative research, the researcher’s essential goal is to

understand social development rather than collecting a representative sample (Dunne et al,

2005).

An overview of the various methods that would be adopted to realize the aim of the research are

as follows:

Objective 1:

(To examine and review the relationship between sustainability and urbanization.)

Examining and review of extensive literature from academic journals, articles, newsletter, and

textbooks, examine case studies and informal discussions with notable building experts to

establish a relationship between sustainability and urbanization

Objective 2:

(To establish the underlying risk factors confronting integrated land use planning)

Qualitative and quantitative approach will be used to gather information from the built

environment professionals in government agencies, public and private institutions, construction

stakeholders in developing countries to ascertain the risk factors in adopting an integrated land

use planning for in urban centers. The risk factors would be pitched against a similar situation in

some selected developed countries and probable solution would be proposed.

Objective 3:

(To establish the underpinning factors confronting the integrated land use planning under

sustainable urbanization)

Semi-structured and structured interviews would be adopted to gather information. Again review

of literature, case studies and discussions with stakeholders would be utilized to explore the

underpinning factors confronting the integrated land use planning in the urban centers.

Objective 4:

(To develop a framework for the successful adaptation of integrated land use planning as a

means of sustainable urbanization)

The findings from comprehensive literature review, case studies, structured questionnaires

survey would be would be triangulated to develop a best practice framework for a successful

sustainable urbanization using integrated land use planning.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Though many researchers have been out with different views of urbanization and land use

planning, this part will be of help in seeking to find the various problems, areas of intervention

and major areas of improving.

Nijkamp, (1996), indicated that frameworks that bridge disciplinary barriers are coming up but

most of them remain at the level of abstracts.

This work will therefore bring about a theoretical but practically oriented framework that will

help improve planners in integrating land use for different areas. The framework will be to serve

as a guide in creating an integrated packages of strategies in land use and urbanization.

The framework will be based on some dimensions which includes:

Strategies of land use change

 Cost and implication

Catalysts of development

Scale.

The development process will be reflected in the structure of the work. Cost, implication and

developments that contribute to minimum density in urban development will be reviewed.

Meanwhile the review will be used in exploring the meaning and understanding of development

in urbanization from different points of view, instead of isolating the relationship between them.

Strategies of land use will also be evaluated in reference to the goals and contributions in favor

of environmental urban development. Getting to this point will bring about ideas and strategies

from urban planning, architecture, built environment and ecology in the framework.

Getting to the final stages, the framework will then be materialized and the uses demonstrated. It

will therefore integrate strategies which will cut across disciplines in addressing multiple issues.

The model of framework will also be based on both the objective and problem tree concepts in

development planning.

Figure 1.1, can be observed that the various factors that brings about negativity on improving

upon land use planning. In which they include:

lack of co-operation from Traditional Authorities,

lack of co-ordination among land sector Agencies and Poor resource base to support the

activities of institutions directly involved in land use planning.

No withstanding the other factors that enhance the achievement of improved land use

planning. They also include:

Compliance with land policies:

co-operation among stakeholders,

 compliance with land policies and resourcing land sector agencies.

Whenever there is improvement in the use of land it also leads to:

the achievement of land use drivers which include:

improved city‟s economic function,

improved land markets,

improved transportation systems,

Improved planning framework or policy and Conforming Land uses.

All these can also lead to improved income, which is caused by: improved public health,

increase in economic productivity, Disaster mitigation and adaptation and Lower unit cost of

infrastructure.
 Figure 1.1 Conceptual Framework of Land Use Planning

Socio-
Economic
Development
LEGEND

Improved income which is caused by:

Factors that promote
-improved public health
effective land use
-increase in economic productivity planning
-Disaster mitigation and adaptation
-Lower unit cost of infrastructure

Factors that negatively

affect land use
Achievement of land use drivers which include:
Improved Land
-improved city‟s economic function
Rights and enhanced
economic benefits -improved land markets
-improved transportation systems
-improved planning framework or policy
Improved -Conforming Land uses
documentation
on land
ownership

Improved Land
use Planning
-Compliance with
land policies.
-Lack of co-operation from T. A.
-Co-operation among
-Lack of co-ordination among stakeholders
land sector Agencies
-Resourcing land
-Poor resource base sector agencies.

Source: Author‟s construct, March 2011

Secondly "Citizen's Network" Green Paper (CEC, 1995) also stated that better planning of land use

could improve and bring about a better system of balance. It further went on to say that these

planning will include ensuring businesses and other activities are concentrated in well served areas,

and reducing distances between residential areas and shops and schools.

The Green Paper also claimed that “implementation of land-use rules is aimed at improving access

to work and other services offered an opportunity to reduce the need to travel for mobility. It also

indicated that a combination of complementary land use planning measures can provide an

integrated package where each element reinforces each other towards the ‘more sustainable’

outcome.

Thirdly, (Grant et.al. 1996), also indicated that one of the reasons to slow progress towards

environmentally sound land use is the adoption of strategy to change the use of land to unresisting

use. It further stated that the strategies tend to be narrowed to the professional aspect of

development.

Kaiser et.al. (1995) also indicated that the change in policy with regards to land use, needs to

consider implications that comes with every area of urban life and negotiate conflicts of interest as

sustainable development which includes economic, social, and physical in all aspects of the

environment. They further added that, there will be the need to combine and implement the various

strategies in addressing all types of land use.

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