The Centre for Urban Management Studies (CUMS) in collaboration with the ‘Pro-Poor Development Cluster’ of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Nigeria organised a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop on the theme, ‘Mainstreaming Sidewalks in Road Transport Infrastructural Development in Ghana’.
The workshop forms part of University of Ghana’s 75th anniversary celebrations and a series of events organised this year by the African Research Network for Urbanisation and Habitable Cities (AR-NUHC). AR-NUHC consists of 10 universities in Africa including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. The network is coordinated by the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) located at the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos. This workshop was financed by UKRI and GCRF partnership funds through the ARUA CoE, University of Lagos.
A cross-section of participants at the Workshop
The workshop brought together academics from Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia, as well as practitioners and policymakers to discuss the mainstreaming of sidewalks in Ghana and by extension, other African countries where sidewalks are lacking.
Dr. Isaac K. Arthur, Director of CUMS
Dr. Isaac K. Arthur, Director of CUMS, in his address expressed that sidewalks are key to promoting pedestrian movement, accessibility, public health, and the maximisation of social capital among people. However, many transport routes in Ghana lack sidewalks resulting in competition for space between motorists and pedestrians, and in worse cases road accidents and fatalities. This situation is common in densely populated urban areas raising concerns about public safety and liveability as Ghana continues to experience increasing urbanisation.
During the workshop, there were presentations by Dr. Samuel Sasu-Mensah (MTTD, Ghana Police Service), Mrs Perpertual Akoto Ofori (National Road Safety Authority), Mr Mohammed Alhassan Damba (President, Ghana Institute of Planners), Dr. Collins Adjei-Mensah (University of Cape Coast), Vida Nyawornota (University of Ghana), Dr. Olasunmbo Olusanya (University of Lagos, Nigeria) and Dr. Victor Onifade (University of Nigeria).
Prof. Danel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities, University of Ghana and Prof. Taibat Lawanson, Co-Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos also gave remarks at the workshop. The event was successfully chaired by Emeritus Prof. Jacob Songsore, Department of Geography and Resource Development.
Prof. Danel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities
