“Stop Work or Produce Permit” – The Politics of Enforcing Planning Regulations in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

In this paper, we identify and unpack the socio-cultural factors and institutional nuances shaping physical development in Kumasi, Ghana. The study draws on multiple methods to gather qualitative evidence from document review, institutional consultations, key informant interviews, and field observations. A total of 128 respondents were engaged. Both content and thematic analysis were used to capture common ideas and identify patterns in responses. The study reveals four key socio-cultural factors impeding effective physical development control in the Kumasi metropolis. There are also complex power dynamics between customary and state institutions in physical development decisions, which go against the enforcement of urban planning regulations. In spite of clearly spelt-out planning laws and development control codes, most building decisions are influenced by the nuanced political posturing of various non-state stakeholders and unwritten socio-cultural factors. The paper concludes with an argument for urban land-use planning to be re-structured to accommodate the operational needs of customary land management institutions.