2025-06-02-世界银行-加纳可持续城市战略_更绿色_更有弹性_更具包容性和繁荣的城市增长（英）_144页_13mb

Summary of the Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy

Core Content

The Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy is a collaborative initiative between the Government of Ghana and the World Bank, aimed at guiding the development of Ghana's urban areas towards greener, more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous growth. It builds on the revised National Urban Policy (NUP), which seeks to transform urban areas into inclusive communities where all citizens, regardless of background, have equal opportunities and access to services.

The Strategy outlines a comprehensive framework for urban development, focusing on three dimensions of sustainability: the Enabling Urban System, People & Economy, and Environment, each with four building blocks. It is supported by diagnostic analytics drawn from local data sources such as the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC), Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS), and District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT), as well as global studies to fill knowledge gaps.

Key Trends in Urbanization

1. Rapid Urban Population Growth and Sprawl

   • Ghana's urban population has more than quadrupled since 1990, reaching 17.5 million in 2021 with a 57% urbanization rate.
   • The built-up area is expanding at an annual rate of 3.2%, with some districts experiencing growth of up to 10%.
   • Urban sprawl has led to the unplanned expansion of cities, especially in peri-urban areas, and an increase in informal settlements (from 5.5 million in 2017 to 8.8 million in 2020).

2. Pollution and GHG Emissions on the Rise

   • Cities contribute 51% of national CO₂ emissions and 66% of waste emissions.
   • The low-density urban form is locking in a high-carbon growth model, which could persist for centuries.
   • Without intervention, urban GHG emissions are projected to nearly quadruple by 2050.
   • Air pollution is mainly caused by transport and poor solid waste management, with 23% of households engaging in open burning.
   • The annual cost of air pollution was estimated at 4.2% of 2017 GDP, or US$2.5 billion.

3. Increased Exposure to Climate Risks and Natural Disasters

   • Climate change and natural disasters are already impacting cities, with flooding and urban heat island (UHI) effects being the most pressing.
   • Urbanization is linked to loss of vegetation, land degradation, increased impervious surfaces, and accumulation of unmanaged waste, all contributing to flooding and UHI effects.
   • In Greater Accra, the built-up area expanded by 18% from 1991 to 2017, while vegetation coverage decreased by 35%.
   • The UHI effect in Greater Accra reached 4.86°C.
   • 90% of flood-prone communities are located in informal settlements.

4. Inclusion and Livability Challenges

   • Access to basic services and affordable housing is a major constraint on inclusion and livability.
   • Urban poor and informal workers often lack influence in urban governance, threatening their "right to the city".
   • 60% of residents in Accra live in informally constructed houses, and only 12% of women own land, compared to 36% of men.
   • Gender disparities in home and land ownership are significant, with only 4% of women owning their homes.

5. Insufficient Public Investment in Urban Infrastructure

   • Public investment in urban infrastructure and services is insufficient to meet growing demands.
   • The Ghana Infrastructure Plan (GIP) estimates that USD37.2 billion is needed annually for infrastructure development.
   • Public capital expenditure represents only 6.8% of total expenditures (or 1.24% of GDP) from 2010 to 2020.
   • In 2019, infrastructure investment was 5% of GDP, below the average for lower-middle-income countries (5.4%).
   • Social sectors receive over 68% of capital expenditures in the 2023 national budget, highlighting the underinvestment in infrastructure.

Strategic Actions

The Strategy proposes four key actions to promote sustainable urban growth:

Strategic Action 1: Focus on Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas

• Cities to prioritize: Bolgatanga, Denu, Ho, Sunyani, Tamale, Techiman, and Wa.
• These cities are expected to become major urban centers in the next 10–20 years.
• The Strategy recommends customized assistance to these cities to avoid high-carbon lock-in, guide development to low-risk areas, improve urban mobility, and enhance quality of life.
• Investment in Accra and Kumasi is primarily for retrofitting existing infrastructure for sustainability.

Strategic Action 2: Invest in Key Sectors for Urban Sustainability

• Priority sectors: Solid waste management, urban mobility, affordable housing, and land management.
• Compact and connected urban neighborhoods will improve livability, economic efficiency, and equity.
• These investments will also help reduce GHG emissions, flood risk, and air and water pollution.
• Key strategies:
  • Transit-oriented urban planning.
  • Infrastructure for public transport, walking, and cycling.
  • Green affordable housing initiatives by the private sector.
  • Improved solid waste management to reduce waste generation and promote composting and recycling.

Strategic Action 3: Mobilize Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and Private Capital

• IGF is a crucial source of local revenue, but it is underutilized.
• Private investment is needed, especially through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), to address the infrastructure gap.
• The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) has advanced the regulatory framework for PPPs.
• However, the current pipeline of projects does not fully leverage private capital for sustainable urban development.
• Land value capture mechanisms such as development charges and building permit fees are used, but strategic land management and infrastructure levies are underutilized.
• Obstacles to land value capture include lack of administrative capacity, financing challenges, resistance from landowners, and inadequate land registries.

Strategic Action 4: Improve Coordination and Governance

• Improved coordination among stakeholders is essential for effective implementation.
• The Strategy emphasizes the need for collaboration between public, private, and development partners.
• Strong governance and project appraisal are required to ensure speedy implementation and financial accountability.

Conclusion

The Ghana Sustainable Cities Strategy provides a blueprint for sustainable urban development, emphasizing inclusive growth, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. It highlights the need for strategic investment, innovative financing, and enhanced governance to address the challenges of rapid urbanization and insufficient infrastructure. By focusing on key cities and sectors, the Strategy aims to shift the trajectory of urban growth towards a more sustainable and equitable model.