Changing land use/cover of Ghana’s oil city (Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis): implications for sustainable urban development

Abstract

Sekondi-Takoradi has been a preferred city in Ghana for many individuals after the discovery of oil in the area in 2007. This paper sought to analyze the land-use/cover change of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis between 1991 and 2016, and its implications on the sustainability of the city. A combination of GIS and remote sensing techniques were employed in the study. The findings of the study revealed a substantial land use/cover change over the period under investigation. Farmlands, open forests, and closed forests were converted into built-up areas. Furthermore, areas covered by water were also encroached by the built-up environment. These show evidence of unguided expansion of the physical growth of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. To address the situation, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in collaboration with public land and environmental agencies should undertake sustainable urban development initiatives such as urban growth boundary strategies and also encourage vertical physical land development to protect the city’s nature reserves