Approaches adopted or community dynamics? Interrogating the reasons for unsustainable community development in Ghanaian slums

Year 2020, Volume: 17 Issue: 46, 391 - 414, 30.10.2020

Jamal Appiah-kubi

Abstract

Although
many community development projects have been undertaken in Ghanaian slums, the
slum population continues to face a myriad of problems due to the failure of
many projects. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the
overarching factors for the unsuccessful and unsustainable projects. The two
key elements in the practice, namely, approaches adopted and the dynamics in
the communities were interrogated with much attention on how they encourage
community participation. This qualitative study was conducted in Old Fadama,
Nima and Ashaiman, all of which are large slums in the Greater Accra region of
Ghana. It was found that the unsustainable nature of projects in the selected
slums is as a result of the interplay of the approaches and community dynamics.
The two approaches (self-help and technical assistance) adopted and the manner
in which they are carried out do not suit the communities, due to dynamics such
as poverty, high ethnic diversity, weak community bonds and insecure land
tenure in Ghanaian slums. It is therefore important that the approaches adopted
are tailored in ways that reflect the characteristics of the slums, and the
negative dynamics that derail projects are also resolved. 

Keywords

Community development, community dynamics, ethnic diversity, land tenure, resource constraint, self-help, technical assistance

APPROACHES ADOPTED OR COMMUNITY DYNAMICS? INTERROGATING THE REASONS FOR UNSUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN GHANAIAN SLUMS

Abstract

Although
many community development projects have been undertaken in Ghanaian slums, the
slum population continues to face a myriad of problems due to the failure of
many projects. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the
overarching factors for the unsuccessful and unsustainable projects. The two
key elements in the practice, namely, approaches adopted and the dynamics in
the communities were interrogated with much attention on how they encourage
community participation. This qualitative study was conducted in Old Fadama,
Nima and Ashaiman, all of which are large slums in the Greater Accra region of
Ghana. It was found that the unsustainable nature of projects in the selected
slums is as a result of the interplay of the approaches and community dynamics.
The two approaches (self-help and technical assistance) adopted and the manner
in which they are carried out do not suit the communities, due to dynamics such
as poverty, high ethnic diversity, weak community bonds and insecure land
tenure in Ghanaian slums. It is therefore important that the approaches adopted
are tailored in ways that reflect the characteristics of the slums, and the
negative dynamics that derail projects are also resolved. 

Keywords

Community development, community dynamics, ethnic diversity, land tenure, resource constraint, self-help, technical assistance

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