Event Recap: Sustainable Development in Ghana

On September 29, His Excellency Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the United States, came to the Initiative on Cities to speak about sustainable development in two of Ghana’s largest cities, Accra and Kumasi.

Adjei-Barwuah noted the difficulty of developing an urban area without suburban expansion, saying government leaders must be tough when deciding between expanding to new land or exercising eminent domain on current land. He also mentioned how urban renewal may be in excess if citizens do not have the means to fully utilize such development.

Despite the need for public growth, Aljei-Barwuah understood the necessity of the private market, saying that the “pulse of the city is in the market.” For example, tourism is one of the biggest industries in Kumasi. If the private economy is compromised, the tax base decreases, making other public developments more difficult. Aljei-Barwuah emphasized that urban innovation is imperative to sustaining cities and generating a renewable, sustainable structure.