victoriaokoye fes@aub presentation_placemaking
TRANSCRIPT
RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SPACES: ACCRA, GHANA
VICTORIA OKOYECOMMUNITY PLANNER + COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, AFRICAN URBANISM
“TOWARDS A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN THE MENA REGION”NOVEMBER 5, 2014
ACCRA
• Independence in 1957• 27 million people (est.)• Stable, peaceful and democratic• Began extracting oil, natural gas in 2010• GDP: US$ 103 billion• Lower-middle income country
GHANA, WEST AFRICA
1960 1970 1984 2000 20130
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
POPULATION GROWTH, 1960-2013
• Population: 2.3 million• Annual growth rate: 2.6%• Economic, financial, political center• Regional trade and investment hub• Immense rural-to-urban growth• 60%+ engaged in informal economy
ACCRA, GHANA
65+55-5945-4935-3925-3915-195-9yrs
-150,000-100,000 -50,000 0 50,000 100,000 150,000
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS (2013)
Male Female
ACCRA, GHANA
• 56% of population below 24 years
PARKS IN ACCRA
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
EFUA SUTHERLAND CHILDREN’S PARK
AKO ADJEI PARK
WHAT’S MISSING? WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO ACCRA’S MOST VIBRANT SOCIAL SPACES?
#1 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY LIFE, EVENTS
#2 COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
#3 ACCESSIBILITY / TRANSPORT LINKAGES
#4 SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE (CHAIRS, SHADE)
#5 SAFETY AND SECURITY (WE KNOW EACH OTHER)
PLACEMAKING APPROACH: IMPROVING COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SPACES
TRANSFORMING A CAR PARK INTO PEOPLE’S PARK
BEFORE AFTER#1 IDENTIFY EXISTING SOCIAL SPACE WITH POTENTIAL
#2 ENGAGE COMMUNITY TO SEE THEIR VISION
#3 CREATE IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY
BEFORE AFTER
JAMESTOWN, OLD ACCRA
CHALE WOTE STREET ART FESTIVAL, JAMESTOWN
CHALE WOTE STREET ART FESTIVAL, JAMESTOWN
