The University of Melbourne
Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning
Patrick Brandful Cobbinah is an urban planning academic at the Melbourne School of Design and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He holds a PhD in Human Geography with emphasis on regional planning and resource conservation from Charles Sturt University, Australia. Patrick's background is in human geography with broad experience in urban and regional planning gained through teaching and research conducted at universities in Ghana and Australia. He is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia, and the Ghana Institute of Planners, University of Michigan Presidential Scholar, a Visiting Scholar at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town South Africa, Global Young Academy Fellow, and an Adjunct Research Fellow of the Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University. Patrick has published widely in his research area with over 2000 citations (Google Scholar). He is a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Urban Affairs.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

FROM BREATHING TO BREATHLESS CITYSCAPE: LAND GOVERNANCE AND URBAN GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT IN GHANA

Session Type
Academic Sessions
Date
02/24/2022
Session Time
11:30 AM - 12:50 PM
Room

Hall A

Lecture Time
11:50 AM - 12:00 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Literature indicates that African cities are losing the battle to safeguard rapidly deteriorating urban green space (UGS) amidst growing vulnerability to global health and environmental change crises particularly climate change and rapid urbanization. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strongly emphasize the creation of UGS via strong land governance protocols. Yet, little is known about the influence of land governance regimes. It is in response to this knowledge gap that this study inquires: could land governance protocols underlie the rapid UGS management problems in African cities? Using Kumasi (Ghana) – a city modelled on the garden city concept – as a case study, multiple data collection techniques were used involving spatial data, secondary data, and agency interviews. Findings indicate over 80% loss of Kumasi’s UGS between 1991 and 2019 producing a breathless cityscape. Although unplanned urbanisation, limited resources, poor urban planning and political interference were frequently mentioned as contributory factors, the foundational cause lies in the complex dual land governance regime lacking coordinated approach to urban development and encouraging non-adherence to land use requirements. Recommendations to improve the situation are proffered.

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