Urban environmental health management challenges and prospects in Ghana: A case study of the Accra metropolis

Abstract

Ensuring congenial environmental health conditions in congested urban centres can significantly facilitate sustainable development of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries like Ghana. Most urban centres in Ghana are experiencing rapid growth and increasing rural-urban migration due to ineffective policies and governance. Environmental health in most urban areas, especially Accra metropolis, has deteriorated over the years. This paper examines the principal environmental health policies in Ghana during the past decades. Administration of questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect information from relevant target groups ranging from policy-makers to media houses in four selected areas in the metropolis. SPSS version 20 was used to analyse the principal environmental health challenges for discussion. Ensuring quality environmental health in the metropolis requires an integrated approach and close collaboration by all stakeholders. Proper planning, coordination and evaluation of urban environmental health conditions should be systematically analysed and appropriate corrective measures implemented.