The political economy of housing and urban development in Africa : Ghana's experience from colonial times to 1998 / Kwadwo Konadu-Agyemang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Konadu-Agyemang, Kwadwo.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Housing policy--Ghana--History.

Housing policy.

Urban policy--Ghana--History.

Urban policy.

History.

Ghana.

Physical Description:

xi, 235 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2001.

Summary:

The problems of providing affordable and adequate housing in Sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on the urban experience in Ghana.

Contents:

The Housing Question in the Context of Political Economy 1

2. The Political Economy of Urbanization, Urban Growth and (Under) Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 11

Urbanization, Urban Growth and Underdevelopment in Sub-Saharan Africa: The State of the Theories 13

The Political Economy of Sub-Saharan African Urbanization 19

The Political Economy of Underdevelopment in Ghana with Emphasis on Housing and Infrastructure 25

Peripheral Capitalism and the Housing Question 35

Towards a Synthesis of Colonialism and Housing Underdevelopment in Ghana 38

3. Urban Population Dynamics in Ghana: 1921-1998 41

Components of Urbanization and Urban Growth 41

Rapid Urbanization and Urban Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and Their Ramifications 46

Determinants of Urban Population Growth in Ghana 47

Empirical Analysis of Urban Growth in Ghana 55

The Urban System in Ghana 58

Consequences of Urbanization and Implications for Housing and Infrastructure Policies 60

4. Accra

From a Fishing Village to a Millionaire City: The Political Economy of the Growth of an African City 61

Development and Expansion of Accra 61

The Impact of Colonial Transport Expansion on the Growth of Accra 75

Demographic and Household Composition 76

The Spatial Structure and Internal Dynamics of Accra 77

5. Housing and Related Infrastructure in Accra: The State of Affairs 81

Access to Accommodation: A Nightmare 82

Housing Types in Accra 83

Physical Composition of Dwellings in Accra 93

City Administration 95

6. Housing Delivery, Demand and Affordability in Ghana with Special Reference to Accra 101

The Housing Delivery System 102

Housing Tenure in Urban Ghana: Choice or Constraint? 103

The Affordability Question 105

Home Ownership 107

Housing Costs in Pre- and Post-Structural Adjustment Periods 117

Institutional Housing Finance 124

The Housing Finance Crisis 127

Land Delivery and Holdings 130

7. The Political Economy of Town Planning, Housing Policy and Strategies in Ghana: From Colonial Times to Present 137

From Early Colonial Times to 1948 137

Government and Housing in the Post-War Era 141

Government Involvement in Housing 156

Government Regulations 169

Government and Land 171

Government and Housing Finance 173

8. Housing Policies in Ghana: Towards Strategies for the Future 177

Housing Provision in the Pre-Capitalist Era 177

Housing Policy Objectives 179

Housing Policy in Ghana: Which Model? 180

Impact of Colonial and Neo-colonial Heritage on Housing Standards 184

Directions for Future Housing Policies and Strategies 186

A Postscript of Hope: The Tema Co-operative Pilot Scheme 202.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [207]-228) and index.

ISBN:

0275970035

OCLC:

43657141