Exploring place attachment dynamics in deprived urban neighborhoods: An empirical study of Nima and Old Fadama slums in Accra, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Despite the growing body of literature on place attachment, research on this topic in the Global South remains limited. This is especially concerning given the significant impact of residential environments, such as slums, on the lived experiences of their inhabitants. This paper addresses this gap by examining the dynamics of place attachment in Nima and Old Fadama, the two largest slums in Accra. Specifically, the study investigates how residents of these neighborhoods perceive their places of residence and the factors that underlie these perceptions. Using semi-structured interviews, we found that some participants in Nima exhibited a generally positive sense of place attachment, while most of those from Old Fadama expressed predominantly negative feelings due to the severe deprivations they endure. This study underscores the need to view slums as complex and dynamic urban conditions rather than static and homogeneous environments. By taking a place-based approach, policymakers can better understand the unique needs and perspectives of slum residents, which is critical for developing effective interventions that promote positive place attachment and enhance the overall well-being of these communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Home
• place attachment
• neighborhoods
• slums
• sense of belonging
• sense of place
• Accra

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants from Nima and Old Fadama who took time from their busy schedules to respond to questions and share their lived experiences. We are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers and Senior Associate Editor, Dr. Patrick Brandful Cobbinah from the University of Melbourne for their valuable comments on our paper. We also appreciate the help of Karen Vankerkoerle (Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario) in producing the map showing location of study sites. The first author acknowledges the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (IJURR) foundation and International Development Research Center (IDRC) for funding his research programs. The third author appreciates funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for his research programs.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elmond Bandauko

Elmond Bandauko is currently a PhD candidate and SSHRC Vanier Scholar in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Western Ontario, London Ontario, Canada. He is also a graduate fellow with the Center for Urban Policy and Local Governance at the University of Western Ontario. Elmond’s research interests span areas such as urban transformation in Global South cities (gated communities and new cities), urban informality, urban governance and the micropolitics of the urban poor, residential satisfaction, and place attachment among others. His doctoral research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Elmond has also awarded the 2022–2023 PhD studentship from the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (IJURR) foundation and the International Doctoral Research Award from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for his doctoral study on urban governance and the spatial politics of street traders in Harare, Zimbabwe. Elmond’s work has been published in journals such as Cities, Urban Research and Practice, The Canadian Geographer, African Geographical Review, Housing Studies, and International Planning Studies among others.

Akosua Boahemaa Asare

Akosua Boahemaa Asare is a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environment at Western University. Her main research interests include addressing spatial inequalities in access to urban services, financing urban infrastructures, urban governance and issues relating to urban households’ vulnerability and resilience. She has a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Godwin Arku

Godwin Arku is a professor in the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Western Ontario. Godwin’s research spans “urban” and “economic” subdivisions of human geography, especially as they relate to the transformation of urban systems in a changing global environment. He is also interested in issues of third world development. Specific areas of present research interests are regional and local economic development policy and planning, urban development and policy analysis, immigrants integration and development issues.