De-greening urbanism and social imaginaries in informal settlements

Abstract

We examine the phenomenon of de-greening urbanism within the context of social imaginaries in informal settlements, focusing on the city of Kumasi (Ghana). De-greening urbanism refers to an urban development process that displaces greenspace, contributing to its decline, deterioration, and loss, closely associated with the negatively changing character of a community. Using mixed research methods, spatiotemporal analysis was undertaken, and surveys and interviews were conducted with city officials, community leaders, and residents to understand the complexity and politics of de-greening urbanism for informal settlements and their environment. The findings reveal a significant loss of urban greenspace (52.4%) in the informal settlements between 2004 and 2024, produced by complex politics of land tenure problems, weak enforcement of planning laws, and poor community–institution collaboration. This de-greening urbanism phenomenon is compounding social inequality, marginalizing informal settlement residents, and fostering socio-environmental segregation across the cityscape. Within the context of social imaginaries, this article underscores the importance of inclusion and collaboration to promote ecological resilience, social cohesion, and the overall urban wellbeing of informal settlement residents.