Urbanisation in Ghana

Globally, urbanisation has been a major feature of the population of many countries over the past several decades, which has received the attention of academia, development planners and practitioners. This chapter examines rapid urbanisation a major feature of Ghana’s demographic transition. The percentage of the population in urban areas more than doubled from 23.1% in the 1960 Census to 56.7% in the 2021 Population and Housing Census. The urban population is largely concentrated in the southern part of the country, with the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions continuing to have the highest rates of urbanisation than the national average. The urban sector has been characterised by gaps in the demand for and supply of infrastructure and amenities for the rapidly increasing urban population. Gaps in the housing supply, for example, have resulted in dependence on unconventional structures for residential purposes which have consequences for environmental sanitation and the well-being of urban residents. Overcrowded urban communities or slums and associated high poverty levels are not uncommon in Ghana’s largest cities. In Ghana, although there has been a nationwide improvement in solid waste collection over time, only 19.2% of urban households use standard waste containers for storing solid waste, while 47.5% use improvised containers. Notwithstanding these challenges, some gains have been made in health indicators in Ghana’s urban areas. A comprehensive policy on basic needs, improvement of slums and health is appropriate for addressing the challenges and improving the well-being of the urban population in Ghana.