Barriers to green cities development in developing countries: evidence from Ghana

Debrah, C. and Owusu-Manu, D. and Kissi, E. and Oduro-Ofori, E. and Edwards, D.J. (2020) Barriers to green cities development in developing countries: evidence from Ghana. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. ISSN 2046-6099

Preview

Text Final Manuscript_Green Cities Barriers (Final - accepted 31st August).pdf - Accepted Version Download (463kB)

Abstract

Purpose: Of late, cities across the globe are taking pragmatic steps towards addressing environmental, social, and economic problems in the debate on sustainable development. Even so, little attention has been paid to studies focused on developing countries. The aim of this study is to examine the barriers to green cities development in developing countries.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the barriers to green cities development. In terms of methodological choice, a quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from professionals who have lines of influence on the greening of our cities and sustainable urban development.
Findings: The barriers to green city development identified were: Lack of awareness of the benefits of a green city, Environmental Degradation, Insufficient policy implementation efforts, Excessive generation of solid waste, and Poor wastewater collection and treatment. It was indicative from the study findings that taking the right sustainable steps in urban development and a paradigm shift towards the pillars of sustainability, Ghanaian cities especially Kumasi has a great proclivity of regaining its longstanding status being “Garden City”.
Practical and theoretical implications: The outcome of this study provides stakeholders in city development an insight into the barriers that inhibit the development of green cities. In practice, this study contributively proposes that the concept of green cities should be incorporated in the education and training of stakeholders to improve the level of awareness.
Originality/value: This paper presents the foremost comprehensive study appraising green city development in Ghana.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1108/SASBE-06-2020-0089
Dates:	Date Event 31 August 2020 Accepted 22 September 2020 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ghana, Green Cities, Barriers, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Development, Urbanisation.
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-04 - planning (urban, rural and regional)
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > College of Computing Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > College of Built Environment
Depositing User:	David Edwards
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2020 15:12
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 11:45
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9805

Actions (login required)

View Item