Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana
Abstract The transformation of natural landscapes due to ongoing urbanization highlights the critical need for the presence and integration of vegetation within urban environments. Although the benefits of urban greenery, including biodiversity conservation, pollution mitigation, and reduction of ur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00195-w |
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| author | Seth Akagla Yaw Agyeman Boafo |
| author_facet | Seth Akagla Yaw Agyeman Boafo |
| author_sort | Seth Akagla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The transformation of natural landscapes due to ongoing urbanization highlights the critical need for the presence and integration of vegetation within urban environments. Although the benefits of urban greenery, including biodiversity conservation, pollution mitigation, and reduction of urban heat island effects, are widely recognized, adherence to corresponding building regulations poses a significant challenge in many Global South countries, including Ghana. This study investigated the compliance with urban greenery regulations among house owners in Madina, a rapidly urbanizing suburb of Accra, Ghana. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with house-owners (n = 200) with qualitative interviews (n = 8) to explore the levels of awareness and compliance among residential house-owners with the guidelines stipulated in the Ghana Building Regulations (LI 1630) and the Ghana Building Code 2018. Our findings revealed a significant gap between awareness of the benefits of urban greenery and actual compliance with the regulations designed to ensure its provision. Key factors contributing to non-compliance were socioeconomic pressures, such as the high cost of land and accommodation, and institutional barriers, including bureaucracy, weak enforcement, and insufficient resources. Furthermore, administrative and political challenges, such as corruption and a lack of support, exacerbate the situation. The study recommends targeted actions to enhance compliance rates, emphasizing the need for streamlined regulatory processes, more robust enforcement mechanisms, and increased awareness campaigns to highlight the critical importance of urban green spaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96c71a4b3a814c8d80dea6e4bc03fcb4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-96c71a4b3a814c8d80dea6e4bc03fcb42025-02-09T12:27:41ZengSpringerDiscover Environment2731-94312025-02-013111910.1007/s44274-025-00195-wAnalyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, GhanaSeth Akagla0Yaw Agyeman Boafo1Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of GhanaCentre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of GhanaAbstract The transformation of natural landscapes due to ongoing urbanization highlights the critical need for the presence and integration of vegetation within urban environments. Although the benefits of urban greenery, including biodiversity conservation, pollution mitigation, and reduction of urban heat island effects, are widely recognized, adherence to corresponding building regulations poses a significant challenge in many Global South countries, including Ghana. This study investigated the compliance with urban greenery regulations among house owners in Madina, a rapidly urbanizing suburb of Accra, Ghana. The research utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with house-owners (n = 200) with qualitative interviews (n = 8) to explore the levels of awareness and compliance among residential house-owners with the guidelines stipulated in the Ghana Building Regulations (LI 1630) and the Ghana Building Code 2018. Our findings revealed a significant gap between awareness of the benefits of urban greenery and actual compliance with the regulations designed to ensure its provision. Key factors contributing to non-compliance were socioeconomic pressures, such as the high cost of land and accommodation, and institutional barriers, including bureaucracy, weak enforcement, and insufficient resources. Furthermore, administrative and political challenges, such as corruption and a lack of support, exacerbate the situation. The study recommends targeted actions to enhance compliance rates, emphasizing the need for streamlined regulatory processes, more robust enforcement mechanisms, and increased awareness campaigns to highlight the critical importance of urban green spaces.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00195-wUrban greeneryBuilding regulationsNon-complianceUrbanisationMadina-Accra |
| spellingShingle | Seth Akagla Yaw Agyeman Boafo Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana Discover Environment Urban greenery Building regulations Non-compliance Urbanisation Madina-Accra |
| title | Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana |
| title_full | Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana |
| title_short | Analyses of house-owners’ awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in Madina, Ghana |
| title_sort | analyses of house owners awareness and compliance with urban greenery regulations in madina ghana |
| topic | Urban greenery Building regulations Non-compliance Urbanisation Madina-Accra |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00195-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sethakagla analysesofhouseownersawarenessandcompliancewithurbangreeneryregulationsinmadinaghana AT yawagyemanboafo analysesofhouseownersawarenessandcompliancewithurbangreeneryregulationsinmadinaghana |