Using auto-photography to explore young people's belonging and exclusion in urban spaces in Accra, Ghana

This paper examines young people’s ‘lived’ experience of urban spaces in Accra, the capital of Ghana, by focusing on the use of auto-photography as an appropriate method for this investigation. Accra has a very young population and low rates of employment among the young people, demographics that are often associated with societal instability and increased risk of civil conflict. Research into African youth and the urban spaces they occupy is scarce and involves real challenges, but it is necessary and urgent due to various issues of exclusion and identity. This paper reports part of a larger phenomenological study on the spatial exclusion of youth in Accra’s urban spaces. The theoretical framework builds on Lefebvrian dialectics of space and focuses on how notions of belonging and exclusion are reflected in the mode of ‘lived space’. The fieldwork was completed on a small sample of young people in two distinct neighborhoods of Accra. In essence, the focus of the paper is on the urban spaces occupied by young people and on the utility of the participatory research tool adopted, auto-photography. In this context, the tool is less intrusive than direct observation and therefore well equipped to allow an ‘insider’ view into personal experiences and perceptions of place that are otherwise difficult to access and study. The paper concludes with a call for urban professionals and decision makers to produce inclusive urban environments that cater for all while for differences and belonging to co-exist

People–place narratives as knowledge typologies for social sustainability : cases from urban contexts in the Global South

In the dynamic interplay between people and their physical environments, the Global South stands as a mosaic undergoing a multitude of transformative influences in architecture and urbanism, within which examining social sustainability becomes imperative. While the prevailing attention remains on environmental and economic sustainability, this study addresses a persistent gap in the urban literature by focusing on the dynamic and manifold nature of social sustainability. Positioning itself within the context of sustainable development, the study links the pursuit of social aspects of sustainability with selected unique urban contexts from the Global South. Five cases, including Alexandria (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya), Basra (Iraq), Lilongwe (Malawi), and Accra (Ghana), are discussed through multi-layered investigations which involve attitude surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory systematic observations, and behavioral mapping, engaging directly with inhabitants and stakeholders. Uncovering people–place narratives in the identified contexts, the cases are developed into five knowledge typologies that serve as practical tools for planning and design decision-making, policy formulation, and academic discourse. Discussions are conceived to demonstrate the transformative role people–place narratives play in fostering a more sustainable and equitable urban future. Conclusions are drawn to offer practical insights for stakeholders involved in various capacities in shaping the urban landscape of the Global South

Inclusive public space : young people's use and perception of the public realm in Accra, Ghana

The thesis examines power dynamics behind young people’s perceptions and use of urban spaces in two neighbourhoods of Accra (Ghana), and proposes guidelines for spatial planning and urban design to remedy key spatial injustices. Like many African cities, Accra has a very young population and high rates of under-employment among young people, demographics often associated with societal instability and increased risk for civil conflict. Additionally, young people are persistently excluded from spaces of political, social and cultural decision making. Research into African youth and urbanism is scarce and involves several methodological and theoretical challenges, but it is urgently needed to improve the quality of urban life and the urban environment, and create more inclusive, spatially just cities engendering societal development through better policy-making and urban planning practices. The thesis develops a spatial justice framework hinging on Lefebvrian spatial dialectics to investigate power relations between different spatial actors. It conducts a multi-level empirical investigation, integrating three lines of inquiry corresponding to Lefebvre’s spatial triad: (1) on young people’s use and perceptions of the public realm (lived space); (2) on collective activities and local power dynamics that produce and manage the public realm (perceived space); (3) on urban policies and planning that organise and structure the public realm (conceived space). This is achieved with a multi-method approach combining different qualitative methods and focusing their tools on these dialectical perspectives of the urban space. The study finds important variations in lived realities and suggests that most youth experience a deep sense of belonging in place, but also that relations with the community and its leadership are complex and often problematic, leading to significant forms of marginalisation. Findings suggest that local power dynamics decisively affect young people’s perceptions and use of spaces, and that their lack of voice in spatial planning processes directly influences the urban form and the suitability and availability of spaces to them. The thesis recommends further research into spatial justice issues and methodologies that allow investigating lived experiences of marginalised populations – particularly in Africa. It recommends advanced forms of participation in spatial planning and decision-making processes and firmly promotes a move towards democratisation of urban policy, planning and research to significantly reduce political, traditional or commercial pressures on marginalised populations and lead to more inclusive and sustainable urban development.The thesis examines power dynamics behind young people’s perceptions and use of urban spaces in two neighbourhoods of Accra (Ghana), and proposes guidelines for spatial planning and urban design to remedy key spatial injustices. Like many African cities, Accra has a very young population and high rates of under-employment among young people, demographics often associated with societal instability and increased risk for civil conflict. Additionally, young people are persistently excluded from spaces of political, social and cultural decision making. Research into African youth and urbanism is scarce and involves several methodological and theoretical challenges, but it is urgently needed to improve the quality of urban life and the urban environment, and create more inclusive, spatially just cities engendering societal development through better policy-making and urban planning practices. The thesis develops a spatial justice framework hinging on Lefebvrian spatial dialectics to investigate power relations between different spatial actors. It conducts a multi-level empirical investigation, integrating three lines of inquiry corresponding to Lefebvre’s spatial triad: (1) on young people’s use and perceptions of the public realm (lived space); (2) on collective activities and local power dynamics that produce and manage the public realm (perceived space); (3) on urban policies and planning that organise and structure the public realm (conceived space). This is achieved with a multi-method approach combining different qualitative methods and focusing their tools on these dialectical perspectives of the urban space. The study finds important variations in lived realities and suggests that most youth experience a deep sense of belonging in place, but also that relations with the community and its leadership are complex and often problematic, leading to significant forms of marginalisation. Findings suggest that local power dynamics decisively affect young people’s perceptions and use of spaces, and that their lack of voice in spatial planning processes directly influences the urban form and the suitability and availability of spaces to them. The thesis recommends further research into spatial justice issues and methodologies that allow investigating lived experiences of marginalised populations – particularly in Africa. It recommends advanced forms of participation in spatial planning and decision-making processes and firmly promotes a move towards democratisation of urban policy, planning and research to significantly reduce political, traditional or commercial pressures on marginalised populations and lead to more inclusive and sustainable urban development

Using Auto-Photography to Explore Young People's Belonging and Exclusion in Urban Spaces in Accra, Ghana

This paper examines young people’s ‘lived’ experience of urban spaces in Accra, the capital of Ghana, by focusing on the use of auto-photography as an appropriate method for this investigation. Accra has a very young population and low rates of employment among the young people, demographics that are often associated with societal instability and increased risk of civil conflict. Research into African youth and the urban spaces they occupy is scarce and involves real challenges, but it is necessary and urgent due to various issues of exclusion and identity. This paper reports part of a larger phenomenological study on the spatial exclusion of youth in Accra’s urban spaces. The theoretical framework builds on Lefebvrian dialectics of space and focuses on how notions of belonging and exclusion are reflected in the mode of ‘lived space’. The fieldwork was completed on a small sample of young people in two distinct neighborhoods of Accra. In essence, the focus of the paper is on the urban spaces occupied by young people and on the utility of the participatory research tool adopted, auto-photography. In this context, the tool is less intrusive than direct observation and therefore well equipped to allow an ‘insider’ view into personal experiences and perceptions of place that are otherwise difficult to access and study. The paper concludes with a call for urban professionals and decision makers to produce inclusive urban environments that cater for all while for differences and belonging to co-exist