Urbanization and settlement growth management

Abstract

In the last seventy years, countries in the Global South, including Ghana, have experienced high levels of urbanization. Rapid urbanization manifests in two ways. Firstly, the phenomenon is evidenced by the large concentration of population in urban areas. Secondly, in spatial terms, urbanization results in the utilization of land for various uses including housing, infrastructure and economic activities, which can be monitored over time through land-cover transitions from non-built-up to built-up areas. Built-up area expansion trends, in turn, shape the physical size of cities and leave lasting impacts on the natural environment and livelihoods. The urbanization process therefore has serious implications for urban growth management and sustainable development. This chapter focuses on the interface between urbanization and spatial planning. It explores urbanization trends globally as well as trends in Ghana. Using remotely sensed data, this chapter presents historical analyses of spatio-temporal settlement expansions trends for major metropolitan regions in Ghana. The various tools and strategies that could be deployed through the spatial planning system to achieve sustainable growth management outcomes in urban areas in Ghana are also identified.