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Gyasi, E.A., Fosu, M., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Mensah, A.M., Obeng, F., Yiran, G.A.B. and Fuseini, I. (2014) Building Urban Resilience Assessing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Tamale, Ghana. Springer, Dordrecht, 87-97.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Spatial Planning in Ghana: Antecedents and the Role of Local Artisans

  AUTHORS: Devine Hedidor, Francis Kwesi Bondinuba, Mohammed Abdulai Sadique

  KEYWORDS: Artisans, Ghana, Spatial Planning, Sustainability, Urbanism, Construction Industry

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, Vol.4 No.3, September 19, 2016

  ABSTRACT: This paper explored the antecedents and the role of local artisans in Spatial Planning (SP) activities in Ghana. The paper was based on the results of an inspection of 5896 already built houses at Mepe in the Volta Region of Ghana. A mixed method research approach was used to gather the data through snowball non-probability sampling technique. It enabled the researchers to identify 100 local artisans. Survey questionnaires were used, which was followed by structured interviews with five (5) elders who lived in the town for over 65 years. The results showed that the early houses were built on community lands with mud and thatch clustered with narrow and unnamed alleys. Property owners heavily depended on local artisans for professional guidance, although some artisans were ill-trained and unaware of existing government SP regulations. The study was limited to artisans who practiced at the local community level. The findings showed that many local artisans were poorly trained, resulting in poor workmanship and non-compliance with local planning regulations. The paper recommends the integration of SP into the artisanal curricula at both local and national levels to improve their skills.