Urban governance and the implementation of major infrastructure projects in Kumasi, Ghana

This paper explores power dynamics among stakeholders in the Kejetia/Central Market Redevelopment Project in Kumasi, Ghana. It adopts a case study approach and draws on multiple qualitative data collection methods, including in-depth interviews of 62 representatives of evicted traders and project officials. The study reveals the use of participatory approaches that ignored many informal stakeholders of the project. These stakeholders also adopted varied strategies to engage city authorities with myriads of outcomes. We argue that the major infrastructure development projects in emerging African cities should have built-in mechanisms for identifying and including stakeholders at all stages of their implementation process.