ROLE OF URBAN INFORMAL SECTOR AND LOW INCOME HOUSING PROVISION: A CASE STUDY OF TAMALE METROPOLIS, GHANA.

Abstract

The urban informal housing sector plays a critical role in supporting the urban housing sector as millions of urban dwellers in the developing world particularly low-income households resort to the sector for their housing needs. This phenomenon is attributed to the rapid urbanization and the lack of capacity of both central and local governments to evolve sustainable housing strategies that assures the rapidly growing urban population particularly low-income households of their housing needs. Notwithstanding this envious role, both city authorities and scholarly works have paid less emphasis on the actual role of the urban informal housing sector in providing housing for the urban poor particularly. Thus the main aim of this study is to explore the actual role of the sector in housing provision for the urban poor in the Tamale Metropolis. The case study design for that matter a mix of qualitative methods such as focus group discussions, mini group discussions, observations and interviews were used to draw in-depth responses from 110 participants from six selected informal neighbourhoods in the Tamale Metropolis. The study reveals that the urban informal housing sector is seen as central to the provision of the housing needs of urban dwellers and most especially serves as a zone of transition in to the urban formal housing market for low-income households and as well a good platform that assures them of being integrated into the economic fabric of the city. The study further reveals a mirage of challenges bedeviling the sector including poor environmental and sanitary conditions, limited access to sustainable financing sources for housing, land acquisition challenges, inaccessibility to basic urban infrastructure services and the prevalence of crime not withstanding its envious role in housing the urban poor. Base on the findings of the study and these challenges, the study recommends that both central and local governments should take a second look at the urban planning systems, urban governance related issues and for that matter the development process which places much priority on the legality and security of tenure at the expense of sustainable land management, housing provision and access to urban infrastructure and services. Also sustainable financing arrangements that assure city authorities in financing the infrastructural gap and low-income households in meeting their housing needs should be explored.