When a major building like Melcom collapses, who is to blame?

Before and after photos of the Achimota Melcom shopping center (located in Accra).

Perhaps the short answer should just be: everybody. Because the Achimota Melcom building’s collapse highlights serious weaknesses in planning regulations and building code enforcement in Accra. When the multistory commercial shopping complex for the Melcom shopping chain collapsed on Wednesday, November 7th in Achimota in Accra, it was not only a horrible disaster but also a testament… Continue reading When a major building like Melcom collapses, who is to blame?

How do we measure “livability” in African cities?

Street-level actvity at Makola Market in Old Accra.

In the Africa.com article “The Top 10 Most Livable Cities in Africa”, I was excited to see the city that I currently reside in — Accra, Ghana — listed as the second most livable city in the continent. As you might guess, it’s many of the continent’s main attractions that find themselves on the list —… Continue reading How do we measure “livability” in African cities?