On “Town Planning in West Africa”

The more things change, the more they stay the same? A familiar depiction of present-day Accra, Ghana, but this speech was made in 1946: “Accra is a town like Freetown. During the war, its water and electric services have had to do double work, and it has surprised me that they have managed to go on working… Continue reading On “Town Planning in West Africa”

Accra: Marching against Monsanto, a group aims to build momentum for a lasting movement

Elvis Agyei-Manu with Food Sovereignty Ghana shares the anti-GMO message with local media.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Saturday morning commerce at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a group of activists assemble. They start out at the city’s largest roundabout – Kwame Nkrumah Circle — where passerbys, vendors and traffic come together. This group of activists, brandishing their placards, have come together to protest against the multinational company Monsanto.… Continue reading Accra: Marching against Monsanto, a group aims to build momentum for a lasting movement

A PARK(ing) Day in Accra, Ghana: Transforming car spaces into people’s spaces, for a weekend

Here in Accra, Ghana, PARK(ing) Day came a little bit early this year (around the world, it’s to be celebrated on September 20th this year). But the essence of what we celebrated and promoted — transforming a car park into a people’s park to demonstrate the importance of public spaces, community activity and recreation —… Continue reading A PARK(ing) Day in Accra, Ghana: Transforming car spaces into people’s spaces, for a weekend

Reblog: In Accra, an art festival capitalizes on streetscape as public space in Jamestown

“In Ghana, what attracts people to places isn’t the [physical] space, it’s the event,” a friend said to me in conversation a few weeks ago. I was reminded of his words this past weekend, standing at the triangle-shaped Otublohum Square in Jamestown. As I watched, bike stuntmen paraded up and down High Street, doing tricks… Continue reading Reblog: In Accra, an art festival capitalizes on streetscape as public space in Jamestown

Reblog: Accra’s Mmofra Foundation puts children at the center of public space design

Boys in a hut at Mmofra Foundation's Playtime Park.

Originally published at UrbanAfrica.net by Victoria Okoye. “Mmofra means children,” explains Amowi Phillips of the Mmofra Foundation, giving the backstory on the children’s park that unfolds around us. Overhead, the gray sky and the sprinkle of droplets threaten rain, but here below we’re in an expansive green space full of life and activity. She takes me around… Continue reading Reblog: Accra’s Mmofra Foundation puts children at the center of public space design

Reblog: “Accra’s Efua Sutherland Children’s Park has limited access”

Efua Sutherland Children's Park is full of potential, yet sadly empty. Photo Credit: Victoria Okoye/africanurbanism.net

The 12-acre green space in central Accra known as Efua Sutherland Children’s Park is one of the city’s largest parks. Situated in the city centre and proximate to the government ministries zone, the national theatre and the city’s largest hotel, one might expect the space to be busy on a typical weekend afternoon. But in… Continue reading Reblog: “Accra’s Efua Sutherland Children’s Park has limited access”