Mapping spatial and temporal dynamics in urban growth: The case of secondary cities in northern Ghana

ABSTRACT

Urbanization induced growth of secondary cities presents several issues and challenges for sustainable development. Yet, secondary cities continue to receive less attention from scholars, city planners and policymakers in Africa. Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of secondary cities is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11. This paper examines the emerging spatial and temporal evolution of two secondary cities in Northern Ghana. The paper utilizes raster data (1990–2019) and applied landscape metrics to analyze spatial development in Wa and Bolgatanga municipalities along three concentric rings. The results show significant increase in built areas over the study period. Urban development in the two cities is becoming more or less fragmented, dispersed and contiguous. Inadequate spatial planning, weakly regulated development and uncoordinated land markets account for the fragmentated spatial forms. The two cities exhibit a monocentric form that fluctuates, is dynamic, and discontinuous. The paper reflects on the implications of the findings and suggests the need for a planned extension of secondary cities in Africa to generate efficient urban forms, curtail sprawl and protect the natural environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Urbanization
• spatial development
• urban planning
• sustainability
• landscape metrics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The primary city is the leading city in its country which is disproportionately larger than any others in the urban hierarchy.

2. https://www.luspa.gov.gh/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prosper Issahaku Korah

Prosper Issahaku Korah is a Lecturer in Urban Design and Planning at the SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana. He obtained his PhD (Urban Studies and Planning) from Griffith University, Australia. He focuses on urban transformation and its impacts on disparities in access to urban amenities, green spaces, informality, and vulnerability to flooding. His work has been published in Land Use Policy, Planning Practice and Research, Urban Geography, Habitat International, and Urban Research and Practice.

Lazarus Jambadu

Lazarus Jambadu is a joint PhD student in Spatial/Urban Planning at University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany). His research focuses on critical urban infrastructure systems, water infrastructures, urbanization and planning systems in global south cities, urban resilience/vulnerability, and “informal” practices in urban infrastructures supply.

Abraham Marshall Nunbogu

Abraham Marshall Nunbogu is a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. His research interest is within a broader context of environment and health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and urban planning. He is a recipient of the Queen Elisabeth Diamond Jubilee scholarship