Global demographic characteristics have witnessed a significant shift with more than half of the world’s population crossing the rural–urban threshold in 2008. In Ghana, the 2010 census report revealed 50.9% urban population. While the many benefits of organised and efficient cities are well understood, it must be recognised that rapid, often unplanned urbanisation brings risk of profound social instability, risk to critical infrastructure, potential water crises and the potential for devastating spread of disease. These risks can only be further exacerbated as this unprecedented transition from rural to urban areas continues. This also means stakes are high for public and private interventions to ensure that urbanisation reinforces rather than retards prosperity. In spite of these past experiences, urban governance policies in emerging smaller cities are frequently ambivalent and piecemeal, exhibiting similar negative tendencies, a development that has received less academic attention. This study adopted multiple research techniques and the data were generated through a structured questionnaire survey, personal interviews and discussions. Based on our conviction that the development trajectory of any city hinges on the quality of its physical foundation, we seek to fill the knowledge gap using the Wa Municipality, the least urbanised but one of the fastest urbanising cities in Ghana today, as a case study. The results reveal emerging tendencies that indicate that Wa appears to be following in the footsteps of its predecessors – experiencing an inefficient potable water supply system and chronic sanitation situation, making diarrhoea one of many challenges for residents. It is ultimately suggested that a collaborative partnership with all key stakeholders is a better option to reap the potential for urbanisation to strengthen economic growth and development.

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The nexus between geography and the health of humans is of interest to many scholars globally. However, this nexus is not fully examined in developing nations like Ghana as compared to developed nations. Therefore, this study examines this nexus in the Ledzokuku-Krowor municipality, a suburb of the Greater Accra region of Ghana using a means comparison approach. Malaria, diarrhea, and intestinal worm related disease are common in the municipality and strongly supported by previous studies. However, hypertension and rheumatism are two diseases that are on the rise in the municipality which are not on the list of the diseases common in Ghana.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in many unprecedented mortality and fatalities globally. To address the negative effects of the pandemic on the general public and nations, the Covid-19 vaccine was developed and rolled out globally. However, historical evidence suggests that Africans initially struggle to accept and use vaccines because of misconceptions and ignorance and the Covid-19 vaccine might not be an exception. This study identifies the various factors that influence citizens' acceptance and use of the Covid-19 vaccine in Africa, specifically Sub-Saharan Africa using a chi-square analysis of 3000 respondents from six countries. Results from our analysis suggest that vaccine specific issues such as safety, effectiveness, availability, delivery methods, and other factors strongly correlate with acceptance and use of the Covid-19 vaccine. The findings of this study have serious implications for both theory and practice in Africa and globally.

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