Journal of
African Studies and Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Afr. Stud. Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2189
  • DOI: 10.5897/JASD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 238

Full Length Research Paper

Tragedy of urban green spaces depletion in selected sub-Sahara African major cities

Seth Appiah-Opoku
  • Seth Appiah-Opoku
  • Department of Geography, 230 Farrah Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States.
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Kwaku Karikari Manu
  • Kwaku Karikari Manu
  • Department of Geography, 230 Farrah Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States.
  • Google Scholar
Michael Osei Asibey
  • Michael Osei Asibey
  • Department of Planning, KNUST, Ghana.
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Owusu Amponsah
  • Owusu Amponsah
  • Department of Planning, KNUST, Ghana.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 16 May 2023
  •  Published: 31 July 2023

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGS) play important role in enhancing the socioeconomic and environmental health of cities around the world. For instance, UGS such as playgrounds, parks and residential greenery provide relief from mental and physical stress in densely populated areas. In spite of the significance of UGS in urban life and city development, their depletion rate in sub-Saharan countries seems alarming. Based on mixed methods approach including content analysis of relevant publications and spatiotemporal analyses, this paper discusses urban green spaces depletion in three randomly selected sub-Saharan African cities. The selected cities are Dar es Salaam, Accra, and Luanda. The study reveals a disturbing trajectory of UGS depletion in the selected cities. The causation factors include (a) pressure of rapid urbanization; (b) weak urban planning regulations; (c) socioeconomic challenges; and (d) weak institutions. Policy implications of these findings include the need to prepare and implement public park plans at regional and the local levels, and build institutional competence and capacity to address rapid depletion of urban green spaces (UGS) in sub-Saharan African cities.

 

Key words: Urban Green Spaces, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Sustainable Development, Cityscape.