Presentation at the conference "Towards a Roadmap for Sustainable Cities in the MENA Region" at the American University of Beirut. Sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
"Re-imagining the Public's Space: Incorporating the Dynamism of Social Spaces into Public Space Planning in Accra, Ghana"
1. “RE-IMAGINING THE PUBLIC’S SPACE: INCORPORATING THE DYNAMISM
OF SOCIAL SPACES INTO PUBLIC SPACE PLANNING IN ACCRA, GHANA”
VICTORIA OKOYE
COMMUNITY PLANNER + COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, AFRICAN URBANISM
“TOWARDS A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN THE MENA REGION”
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
2. GHANA, WEST AFRICA
ACCRA
• Independence in 1957
• 27 million people (est.)
• Stable, peaceful and democratic
• Began extracting oil, natural gas in 2010
• GDP: US$ 103 billion
• Lower-middle income country
3. ACCRA, GHANA
• Population: 2.3 million
• Annual growth rate: 2.6%
• Economic, financial, political center
• Regional trade and investment hub
• Immense rural-to-urban growth
• 60%+ engaged in informal economy
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
POPULATION GROWTH, 1960-2013
1960 1970 1984 2000 2013
4. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS (2013)
5-9yrs
15-19
25-39
35-39
45-49
55-59
65+
-150,000 -100,000 -50,000 0 50,000 100,000 150,000
Male Female
ACCRA, GHANA
• Young population: 56% of population below 24 years of age
