Urban expansion and livelihood dynamics in peri-urban Tamale, Ghana

Abstract

At the heart of this paper are concerns for food security and sustainability—two challenges of wide relevance for geographers. Our work focuses specifically on the Guinea northern savanna ecological zone of Ghana, where poverty is grim and livelihood opportunities are limited and the intersection of urban expansion and livelihood dynamics is not well understood. This study analysed trends in and effects of urban expansion on farmers’ livelihoods in four peri-urban communities around Tamale in the Republic of Ghana. The study employed a mixed methods design comprising quantitative and qualitative methods. It used geospatial techniques, secondary data, and a qualitative study involving 56 heads of households and seven key informants. Results indicate that while the surface area of farmlands reduced by 77% from 1996 to 2023, urban or built-up areas increased by 93% in the same period. Findings show that while urban expansion reduced the sizes of farmlands, households’ agricultural output, and income, it created nonfarm livelihood opportunities for some households. To minimise the effects of urbanisation-induced arable land shrinkage, affected households adopted three strategies: agricultural intensification, agricultural diversification, and adoption of nonfarm livelihood activities. Key policy initiatives by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly are needed to protect agricultural lands to stem declining agricultural production and to ensure livelihood sustainability in the metropolis.