The Politics of Green Space Governance: A Trip Through Memory Lane With a Geospatial Data Lens

Urban green spaces are vital for sustaining ecological balance and resilience in cities. In Accra, these spaces face significant threats from rapid urbanization, and rising land demand, undermining the urban ecosystem's health. This study uses geospatial techniques, key informant interviews, and direct observations to assess the loss of green spaces amidst development pressures. The research makes two key contributions. First, it provides insights into Accra’s political dynamics, particularly “elite capture,” driven by weak law enforcement and questionable rezoning, resulting in a 70% loss of green spaces between 1958 and 2020. Second, it highlights how inadequate spatial planning, ineffective waste management, and weak policy coordination compound challenges, further complicating alignment between formal laws and customary practices. This study enriches discourse on how individual agency, organizational behavior, institutional frameworks, and social contexts shape efforts to address urban flooding and foster sustainable development in urban Africa.