Urban Informality, Housing Insecurity and “Bulldozer Urbanism” in Global South Cities: Evidence From Selected Slum Communities in Accra, Ghana

Reforce Okwei, Elmond Bandauko, Desmond Adjaison, Lina Adeetuk, Thelma Akyea and Godwin Arku

Growth and Change, 2025, vol. 56, issue 4

Abstract: In Accra, state‐led eviction mirrors ongoing processes of socio‐spatial inequality and exclusion. While evictions are rooted in neoliberal ideals, the outcomes of such processes have been particularly devastating for residents of slums and informal settlements. This paper uses Cernea's Risk and Reconstruction Model to examine the impacts of bulldozer urbanism on three selected slum communities in Accra. Bulldozer urbanism is rationalized by municipal authorities as an approach to sanitize urban environments by removing what is perceived as filth, dirt, and a looming environmental hazard. While Cernea's model was valuable in uncovering the multiple impacts of evictions on our study communities, the findings reveal outcomes that extend beyond its scope by situating the findings within the broader discussion of state power, neoliberal governance, and urban dispossession. The paper highlights the urgent need for policymakers to embrace and recognize slums and informal communities as integral contributors rather than obstacles to urban development. Based on the findings, the study advocates for a shift from “bulldozing” to upholding the housing rights of slum dwellers as an important step for realizing just, equitable and inclusive cities.

Date: 2025
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