The Role of Strategic Impact Assessment in Promoting Ghana’s Transition to a Green Economy

Abstract

Ghana recognizes a shift from a conventional economy to a green economy, which includes proactively addressing socio-ecological challenges to ensure sustainable economic growth. The land use and spatial planning sector is already identified by the government of Ghana and its development partners as one with significant potential for greening the Ghanaian economy. The study therefore investigated how the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to land use and spatial planning policies, plans and programmes (PPPs) is influencing greening outcomes in Ghana. The objectives included examining the direct impact of SEA on decision making processes of spatial and land use planning PPPs as well as the indirect impact beyond the PPPs context. This study followed a qualitative research approach. Case study and purposive sampling were employed as the research design and the sampling technique respectively. The target population were the staff of the Environmental Protection Agency, National Development Planning Commission, and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, three key institutions involved in SEA administration in spatial planning in Ghana. As part of the data collection, six officers, two from each of the aforementioned institutions were engaged mainly through in-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guide. The study findings showed that, in terms of direct impact, SEA application was effectively introducing sustainability ideas and also greening the land use and spatial planning PPPs. The results highlighted improvements in institutional arrangement, capacity, as well as management practices with regards to the indirect impact. The findings also revealed limited implementation of the evaluated land use and spatial planning PPPs primarily due to land tenure practices and low support from the political elite. The study concludes that, the application of SEA has not adequately influenced land use and spatial planning in Ghana, as there appear to be insufficient clear case evidence of enhancing natural assets and social equity alongside economic advancement. Nonetheless, there are good grounds for optimism about SEA delivering a sustainable economy for Ghana through its application to land use and spatial planning.