City profile - ACCRA

Accra, the capital and major economic city in Ghana. is undergoing a major restructuring of much of its infrastructure and, more important. its physical form and appearance. Much of Accra's growth parallels the introduction of liberalization policies since 1983. During this time the economic foci of the urban economy have been shifting away from the old colonial city to a more diffuse spatial organization. Uneven economic and residential development is associated with these trends. Accra is developing independently of any spatial urban planning. Present-day Accra is characterized by fragmented economic and residential geographies that if left unchecked will undermine sustainable urban development. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.