Spatial planning in the digital age: the role of emerging technologies in democratising participation in spatial planning in Ghana

ABSTRACT Planning practice has evolved from technocratic to participatory approaches. This is driven by the need to ensure that the stakeholders of development programmes are involved in making decisions. However, participatory planning, often excludes interested publics from planning processes, due to several barriers. As such there is a recourse to digital technologies aimed at broadening participation of interested publics in planning processes. This study sought to unpack the reasons why digital technologies are not widely used in spatial planning processes in Ghana, in spite of the availability of, and possibilities for doing so? And what forms of technology can help us deepen public participation in spatial planning in Ghana? The study established that various web and mobile technologies and apps exist to aid participation in planning in Ghana, although such a process must be backed by national efforts to deepen transparency in governance and enhance digital literacy and penetration.