Urbanization Without Ecological Sensitivity: Drivers and Impacts of Wetlands Degradation in Wa, Ghana

Abstract

Unregulated land use and urban growth affect the quality and quantity of wetland ecosystems in sub-Saharan African cities. Underpinned by the urban commons' theoretical lens, this study employed mixed-methods to explore the extent and impact of wetland degradation on the daily lives and ecological wellbeing of residents in the Wa urban area. It contributes to the growing literature on how wetlands are being degraded, resulting from multiple and interconnected anthropogenic factors: urban expansion, customary land ownership and the resultant land commodification, urban planning deficits, weak institutional capacity, poor regulatory framework, lack of stakeholder collaboration, and fragmented community action towards the governance and safeguarding of wetlands in the city. The findings provide policymakers with insights to redirect attention to reconfiguring wetlands' management and governance through the deployment of comprehensive urban planning ecological modules, collaborative stakeholder action, education, and awareness-raising about the consequences of wetland degradation in Ghana.