“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

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

GHANA, WEST AFRICA

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

1960 1970 1984 2000 2013

POPULATION GROWTH, 1960-2013

• 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

ACCRA, GHANA

-150,000 -100,000 -50,000 0 50,000 100,000 150,000

65+

55-59

45-49

35-39

25-39

15-19

5-9yrs

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS (2013)

Male Female

ACCRA, GHANA

• Young population: 56% of population below 24 years of age

PARKS IN ACCRA

EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK

EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK

EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK

KWAME NKRUMAH PARK & MAUSOLEUM

AKO ADJEI PARK

JAMESTOWN, OLD ACCRA

WHAT’S MISSING? WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO ACCRA’S MOST VIBRANT SOCIAL SPACES?

#1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY LIFE, EVENTS

#2 COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY

#3 ACCESSIBILITY / TRANSPORT LINKAGES

#4 SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE (CHAIRS, SHADE)

#5 SAFETY AND SECURITY (WE KNOW EACH OTHER)

PLACEMAKING APPROACH: IMPROVING COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SPACES

TRANSFORMING A CAR PARK INTO PEOPLE’S PARK

BEFORE AFTER#1 IDENTIFY EXISTING SOCIAL SPACE WITH POTENTIAL

#2 ENGAGE COMMUNITY TO SEE THEIR VISION

#3 CREATE IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY

BEFORE AFTER

THANK YOU!

Victoria Okoyewww.africanurbanism.netvictoria.okoye@gmail.com@africanurbanism