The government has been called upon to place greater focus on informal settlements when designing and implementing infrastructure development policies to ensure that national planning efforts are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. The appeal was made by Eric Kwame Akomani, National Project Officer of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ghana, who emphasised that government attention to these underserved communities is vital for achieving balanced national growth.
Mr. Akomani explained that informal settlements, which continue to expand across many urban centres in Ghana, often lack access to essential public services such as potable water, sanitation facilities, electricity, and proper waste management. These deficiencies, he said, highlight the urgent need for government policies that recognise the unique conditions and vulnerabilities of residents living in such areas.
“By prioritising informal settlements in infrastructure planning, policymakers and planners can help address the unique challenges and needs of these communities, promoting more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development,” Mr. Akomani said. He added that sustainable infrastructure development in these areas would also enhance resilience to climate change and improve the overall quality of life for affected populations.
He made these remarks during a presentation on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), a follow-up initiative to the Africa Climate Summit II. The event, organised to continue discussions from the summit, focused on strengthening collaboration between city authorities and development partners to address the intersection of climate change, internal migration, and urban planning.
The IOM, along with representatives from Accra, Addis Ababa, and Bujumbura, participated in the Africa Climate Summit II in Addis Ababa, where they co-hosted a side event titled “Assessing the Impacts of Climate-Induced Mobility on Cities in Africa.” This engagement sought to explore how climate-driven migration is reshaping African cities and how governments can integrate migration and environmental adaptation into urban planning frameworks.
To tackle these challenges, Mr. Akomani urged the government to develop a dedicated funding strategy for climate change and human mobility-related adaptation programs. He emphasized that sustained and well-coordinated financial planning is essential for implementing long-term solutions that strengthen urban resilience and reduce disaster risks.
He also recommended that the government invest in robust local data systems capable of tracking internal displacement, migration patterns, and population dynamics in real time. These systems, he said, must include sex- and age-disaggregated data to ensure that all segments of the population—especially women, children, and the elderly—are represented and supported in policy and decision-making processes.
According to Mr. Akomani, a strong national response to climate change and human mobility must also incorporate early warning systems and early identification mechanisms to detect and assist at-risk populations before crises escalate. He proposed that the AMA, in collaboration with national agencies, develop a Climate Mobility Tracker to monitor intra-urban movements, seasonal displacement trends, and gender-specific vulnerabilities.
He stressed that the future of Accra and other urban areas depends on how effectively government institutions manage the convergence of risk, mobility, and equity. Addressing these interconnected issues, he said, requires an integrated policy approach that brings together local governments, communities, and international partners.
“The convergence of climate change, internal migration, and gender inequality in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is a critical policy frontier,” Mr. Akomani stated, calling for stronger governance and planning frameworks to manage these dynamics proactively.
Mr. Akomani reiterated that the government must take deliberate steps to incorporate informal settlements into the national infrastructure development agenda.
