Civic administrative centres in the northern and southern cities of Ghana: Assessing their state and locational distribution and the implications for urban growth and land demand

Land remains a vital resource for the growth of infrastructure and human populations; however, it is increasingly becoming a matter of necessity to manage the earth's limited land and natural resources sustainably. Employing a mixed-methods research approach and case-studying Cape Coast and Wa, this study assessed the state and locational distribution of civic administrative land uses in the northern and southern cities of Ghana and clinched its implications for urban growth and land demand. Following this, the study found that the Cape Coast is 48% developed land-use-wise, and land dedicated to civic and administrative purposes is 0.019 km2. Wa is 69% built-up, with 0.015 km2 allocated for civic purposes as of 2023. Also, the study found that the built environment and planning strategies pertaining to land optimisation relied heavily on governments’ policies, commitments, and support from the required agencies to formulate a comprehensive land use regime and land tenure system for fast-growing cities in Ghana. Therefore, the researchers suggest a proposed design of a model administrative centre that meets 21st century design requirements and standards for public offices should be envisioned, with strategies to initiate a new sustainable building regime for administrative centres in Ghana and similar geographies in sub-Saharan Africa. •As cities grow rapidly in population and expands physically, the competition for land increases due to urbanisation.•Thus, this study explored civic administrative land use in northern and southern Ghana.•The study found that land optimization strategies rely on government policies, which have often failed.•This led to varied distribution of civic centres in major Ghanaian cities.•To address this, a comprehensive land use regime and tenure system are needed for fast-growing cities in Ghana.•The need for a sustainable model for administrative centres, meeting 21st-century standards.