Towards sustainability: Overcoming the physical barriers to urban green spaces in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Conserving green spaces (parks, gardens, forest) in the physical landscape of cities is an action that has been identified as contributing to the sustainability of cities. However, to be able to conserve such spaces, some barriers need to be overcome, and this has not received much attention. This paper therefore provides measures to overcome the ‘physical’ barriers to urban green spaces in order to enhance the sustainability of such spaces in Ghana, using Kumasi as a case study. A qualitative research approach, 30 in-depth interviews, ten focus group discussions, archival data, and numerous observation sessions were utilized in the study. Kumasi city authorities, allied bodies on green spaces, opinion leaders, and residents of Kumasi constituted the study’s target population. It was discovered that conflicting ownership rights, encroachment, and poor maintenance are major physical barriers hampering the development of urban green spaces. To enhance the sustainability of urban green spaces, the study recommends that there should be the creation of additional parks and gardens, conversion of brownfield sites into green spaces, incorporation of quantitative standards into the provision of green spaces, and institutionalization of an award scheme on green spaces.