Urbanization in Africa (and the wider developing world for that matter) has often been misunderstood by Western observers on the lookout for Western‐style cities and suburbs. In these parts of the world, rapid urbanization has led to continuing changes in the form and shape of cities, as peri‐urban zones shift swiftly from rural to urban. While some descriptions of the peri‐urban zone suggest an amorphous area filled with low‐income residents, others argue that the zone is highly diverse. Using population census data, spatial modeling and regression analysis, we show that urban expansion at the edge of the city of Accra, Ghana, is not amorphous and does indeed show some discernible patterns. These patterns are represented by four hypotheses tested in this study — the spreading pancake, development node, village magnet and ribbon hypotheses. While the assumption that urban growth occurs in concentric rings around a central city (represented by the spreading pancake model) holds for Accra, this pattern of growth combines with other patterns to create a still‐evolving urban form in the city's peri‐urban zone. These include clustering of growth around a port city, a number of old villages and along improved highways radiating from the city. Résumé En Afrique (et dans le monde en développement en général), l'urbanisation a souvent été mal comprise par les observateurs occidentaux en quête de villes et banlieues de type occidental. Dans ces parties du monde, l'urbanisation accélérée a entraîné des modifications constantes dans la conformation des grandes villes, les terrains ruraux périphériques devenant rapidement des zones urbaines. Selon certaines descriptions, la périphérie est amorphe, envahie d'habitants à faible revenu; selon d'autres, elle est empreinte d'une grande diversité. À l'aide de données de recensement, d'une modélisation spatiale et d'une régression statistique, on peut montrer que l'expansion urbaine aux limites de la ville d'Accra au Ghana n'est pas amorphe et qu'elle présente des schémas tout à fait identifiables. Ceux‐ci correspondent aux quatre hypothèses évaluées dans cette étude: la crêpe étalée, le pôle de développement, les villages aimantés, le ruban. L'idée que la croissance urbaine se diffuse en cercles concentriques autour d'une ville centrale (modèle de la crêpe étalée) s'applique à Accra, mais ce modèle est associéà d'autres schémas pour créer une forme urbaine en évolution permanente dans sa périphérie. On trouve ainsi une concentration de croissance autour d'une ville portuaire, de plusieurs villages pré‐existants, ainsi que le long de grandes routes rénovées qui rayonnent à partir de la ville.

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In recent times, a growing body of research has drawn attention to the changing interface and interdependence between urban and rural spaces in Africa. This includes studies on physical, environmental, socio-demographic, economic and other transformations in the peri-urban zone. However, little is known about how residents of peri-urban communities adapt their livelihoods to these transformations. Using the case study approach, and by applying the sustainable livelihood framework as an analytical tool, we have explored the livelihood strategies adopted by the residents of four communities in peri-urban Accrain response to the city's physical expansion. We find that urban growth has differential effects on peri-urban livelihoods, thereby creating winners and losers. Some residents, by reason of their possession of, or control over, various forms of livelihood assets, are able to utilize opportunities offered by urban growth to devise livelihood strategies to enhance their wellbeing. Those who suffer adverse effects are mainly resource-poor farm households who, apart from not having the wherewithal to take advantage of opportunities created by urban growth, lose their farm-based livelihoods as a result of the conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural uses. We therefore recommend that local government authorities should incorporate peri-urban livelihood issues into their planning activities.

Currently, half of the world's population lives in urban areas and the tempo of urbanization is expected to continue unabated during the 21 st century, with most of the growth occurring in the developing world. The metropolitanization of African urban centres has brought in its wake several challenges, including uncontrolled physical development, inadequate and deteriorating infrastructure, and traffic congestion. To address the challenges, there is the need to understand the patterns of growth and structure of these urban centres. However, little work has been done in this regard. In this paper, we sought to model the patterns of growth of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) in Ghana. Using GIS and multiple-regression techniques, we have demonstrated that the form and growth of GKMA follow discernible patterns that can be explained by the monocentric city model and the ribbon development pattern of spatial growth. There are non-linear, negative relationships between distance from Central Kumasi and distance from highways (as predictors) and the dependent variables population density and population growth. The findings indicate that Africa's metropolitan areas follow discernible patterns that can be explained by existing models applied in other regions.

This study explores Ghana's implementation of a policy of two per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) meant for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in four districts. It employed in-depth interviews with PWDs and offi cers in the District Assembly. The study revealed that the District Assemblies did not fully comply with directives from the central government to implement the policy. There were inconsistencies in the implementation of the policy and many PWDs received amounts that were less than they required. Further, fi xed amounts were allocated to PWDs for diff erent purposes and even though the purposes for requests were not clear, payments were made. The study recommends the need to compile and maintain a database of all PWDs in all the Districts in Ghana, implementing uniform format for allocation of the DACF to PWDs, providing support in the form of inputs rather than cash, and mobilising PWDs into cooperatives. The District Assemblies might consider engaging independent evaluators to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the policy to give the much-needed direction to the policy.