Author : Voluntary Local Review
Affiliated institution : Accra Metropolitan Assembly
Type of publication : Report
Publication date : February, 2020
Introduction
The city of Accra is one of the first three cities in Africa to sign on to the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) in September, 2019 with the pledge of using the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help reduce extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and work to prevent the harmful effects of climate change by 2030. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s Development Policy is underpinned by the SDGs and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063. The Assembly’s medium-term development plan and budgeting processes are all aligned to the two agendas. The VLR report provides an overview of the metropolis’ steps and progress towards achieving the SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063, as well as highlight the inclusivity in the planning process with the objective of bringing development closer to the people. It also serves as a reference point for tracking the progress on the various targets in pursuit of the vision to make Accra “A Smart, Safe, Sustainable and Resilient City”.
After independence in 1957, the government promoted Accra as the capital and growth pole of the national economy. Administrative functions for the entire country were greatly expanded in the center of Accra. The elimination of legislation that had formerly discouraged native enterprises led to a rapid growth in the number of those companies, now free to locate around the city. More relaxed zoning policies resulted in a mix of commercial and residential uses of properties in the city center. The period between 1960 and 1970 saw rapid industrialisation and expansion in Accra’s manufacturing and commercial sectors. This contributed to high rural-urban migration to the city, and consequently a high population growth rate. The decline in agriculture in rural communities in Ghana, coupled with the late-1980s boom in the service sector, further propelled immigration to Accra. The dominance of the Accra Metropolis as an administrative, educational, industrial and commercial centre continues to be the major force for its population growth, with immigration contributing to over 35 percent of the city’s population growth. In 2019, the population of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) was estimated at 2.1 million and an additional transient population of about 1 million who commute to the city on a daily basis for a variety of economic and social activities and services. About 47 percent of the resident population are migrants born outside the City of Accra.
Poverty and inequality
The proportion of poor people living within Accra metropolis has declined over the years, falling from 10.6 percent in 2006 to 2.6 percent in 2013 and further by more than half to 0.8 percent in 2017. In 2017, more males were poor (1.07 percent) than females (0.34 percent) within the metropolis, a similar situation observed at the national level. In addition, estimates based on the international thresholds of USD 1.90 per day indicate that poverty has been eradicated in Accra. The metropolis is currently implementing its medium-term development plan (2018-2021) with a central objective to reduce poverty and improve the social wellbeing of its residents. As part of measures to eradicate poverty, a local economic development strategy was introduced in the metropolis to achieve sustainable economic growth and development through partnership between Local Government, local business and other actors. The Assembly in collaboration with central Government is implementing a number of pro-poor programmes and projects such as: Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), National Youth Employment Programme, School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, and Free Exercise Books among others.
About a quarter of persons aged 15 years and older within the metropolis were unemployed in 2017, a rate higher than the national and regional levels of 14.6 percent and 20.5 percent respectively. More females than males were unemployed and the condition was predominant among 25-44 age group, followed by the youth. The metropolis through a micro finance system component of Participatory Slum Upgrading and Prevention Project (PSUP) has been supporting SMEs with loan facilities at cheaper interest rates to enable them to increase productivity and employ more people.
In addition, AMA is collaborating with the central government to implement its flagship programmes, including: Planting for Food and Jobs; Rearing for Food and Jobs; Nations Builders Corps (NABCO), One district, one factory; and Digital Marketing Entrepreneurial Programme.
One out of every 7 residents in the metropolis lived below half of the city’s median income estimated at GHC 8,400 in 2017 (Figure 4.20). This indicates a relatively higher level of Inequality in the metropolis compared to Greater Accra Region. The largest proportion of residents in this category are those between the ages of 25- 44. Also, there are more females than males in this category.
Data is not available on the population living in slums within the metropolis. However, currently, there are about 29 squatter and slum communities in the city. This situation is partly due to increasing rural-urban migration stemming from the comparative advantages of the metropolis. In addition to this challenge, there are also a growing number of unauthorized structures throughout the metropolis. Intensive development control measures have been instituted by the City Authority to consolidate on-going reforms in conversion of residential properties into mixed commercial uses. The Assembly is undertaking redevelopment of isolated run-down buildings into mixed commercial and residential properties to motivate general upgrading of residential houses
Health and education
Consistent with the metropolis’ policy objective to improve quality of life and reduce poverty, it increased its expenditures to provide for essential services including education, sanitation and health. The Assembly increased its education expenditure significantly from 28.1 percent in 2016 to 35.3 percent in 2017 but however declined to 24.8 percent in 2018. Most of the education expenditure went into improving and expanding education infrastructure and provision of logistical materials for the metropolis. Sanitation expenditure as a percentage of total revenue increased from 7.6 percent in 2016 to 11.5 percent in 2018 to address the deficit in improved sanitation facilities as well as the management of liquid and solid waste in the Assembly. Compared to education and sanitation, the percentage of expenditure for health was the lowest. The health expenditure targeted public health education on food, drugs, communicable diseases and reduction of malaria incidence among others.
The Metropolitan Directorate of Education, in collaboration with key stakeholders, regularly implements interventions to improve quality education, these include: activity-based training for Mathematics and English teachers (P1-JHS3) to improve teaching and learning of Mathematics; subject interaction sessions for BECE candidates; capacity building for school circuit supervisors to effectively supervise teaching and learning; and conduct of weekly test and assignment for final year pupils (JHS 3). In collaboration with the Ghana Library Authority, the metropolis organises reading competitions for pupils in KG to JHS as part of the celebration of international children book day.
Women
The proportion of the metropolis annual budget allocated to gender programmes is an indication of the city’s commitment to women’s empowerment and equality. Available data indicate on average, 2.5 percent of the metropolis annual budget has been allocated to gender programmes during the period 2016 to 2018. Although the share remains low, it is higher than the national target of at least one percent.
Ongoing efforts include capacity building workshops for aspiring women candidates, and collaborating with national institutions including local government institute and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to implement women’s empowerment programmes such as enforcement of fair pay, equitable conditions of service, and promotion in the formal and informal sectors.
Environment
Flooding is one of Accra’s greatest urban challenges, and one of the most critical threats to its resilience. Accra has a longstanding history of flooding, however recent floods have been more frequent and more destructive. Other disasters are fire outbreaks and rainstorms. In 2018, about 6,928 of the city dwellers were affected by these disasters, with those affected by flood accounting for about 80 percent. The vulnerability of the city to disasters is mainly due to the insufficient drainage networks, poor waste management, building situated on waterways. In recent times, climate change hasfurther exacerbated Accra’s vulnerability resulting in increases in the frequency and intensity of rainfall, rainwater runoff, and coastal flooding.
To ensure preparedness for future unforeseen disasters, the metropolis has put in place a number of initiatives including the Accra Resilience Strategy aimed at strengthening the city’s ability to survive, adapt and thrive in the face of an ever-increasing uncertainty as well as shocks and stresses. Other initiatives include: formation of disaster volunteer groups in communities and in schools; installation of Emergency Operating Centre (E.O.C) to monitor hazards; and public education on disaster prevention and management; improve capacity of building inspectors through comprehensive training in building codes, technical standards, and risk-based approaches to enforcement; and upgrade select informal settlements.
Coastal erosion has affected the socio-economic activities in coastal communities and threatened coastal tourism and cultural heritage including the forts and castles. It is estimated that the coastline is eroding at an annual rate of 4 meters in the east and 2 meters in the west. Some of the current interventions being pursued by the metropolis to protect the coastal areas include the following:
Interventions to protect coastal areas by the Assembly include:
- Construction of sea-defense structures at locations experiencing severe erosion;
- Adoption of measures to prevent encroachment of incompatible land uses and destructive activities within the coastal areas
- Enforcement of regulations on destructive activities within the coastal areas, including the prohibition of sand winning and construction of buildings too close to the shoreline; and developing a climate change action plan
Though 41.7 percent of Ghana’s population works in agriculture sector, only 1.7 percent of AMAs population work in that sector. The metropolis over the years have lost substantial acres of land under agriculture to residential uses. As farming land decreases, farmers shift their activities to more distant areas such as the peri urban areas within the metropolis. Sand winning along the shores of Accra poses a major threat causing environmental destruction and degradation claiming homes and lands within the Assembly. Land loss due to these intense human activities are geared towards addressing the rapid urbanization needs of the metropolis such as increasing socio-economic amenities and infrastructure development. The metropolis is enforcing various laws; implementing a beautification project collaboration; and collaboration with private sector to plant trees.
Conclusion
This report presents the findings from a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 for the City of Accra. The review covered an assessment of the institutional and regulatory environment, progress of implementation on the goals, and an analysis of the population groups that are at risk of being left behind.
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