Electricity and informal settlements: Towards achieving SDG 7 in developing countries
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Energy Research & Social Science
Abstract
Despite many academic discussions on the importance of sustainable and reliable energy to informal settlement
dwellers, there is limited evidence on the delivery of electricity in informal settlements, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the concept of tactical urbanism, this study examined electricity delivery and access to
informal settlement dwellers in Accra, Ghana, as an important component of meeting SDG 7. The paper
analyses evidence collected through three focus group discussions of thirty informal settlement dwellers in three
communities in Accra. The findings showed that, whereas access to electricity in informal settlements has
improved significantly; this increase is a result of corruption and connivance with electricity officials and that
informal settlement dwellers pay exorbitantly to access and use electricity. This paper contributes to the growing
body of scholarship on sustainable electricity in urban informal settlements in the Global South by documenting
the experiences of informal settlement dwellers in Accra, Ghana.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Informal settlement, Sustainable development goals, Sub-Saharan Africa