Ghana National Spatial Development Framework (2015-2035). Volume I: Conditions and Main Issues.

The National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) provides for goal of government for sustainable and equitable socio-economic transformation by covering different issues related to urbanization and human settlements, economic development and the spatial economy, agriculture, infrastructure, environment and land cover, social development and climate change. NSDF sets out preferred spatial strategy and a number of national development initiatives to support sustainable economic growth, a transition to a low-carbon economy and investing in modernizing Ghana infrastructure.NSDF will play a key role in guiding local authorities in preparing regional, sub-regional and district level spatial development frameworks and lower level plans. The text clarifies that each part of the country must use its strengths to build a prosperous, healthy and sustainable future with optimal impact on the livelihoods of people and their surroundings.
In part 2 of the NSDF an enhanced overview is made on population growth, district populations, urban and rural settlement systems and patterns and population projections. The recommendations that are addressed for current and future challenges and opportunities include data availability, Ghana's rapid population growth, varying growth of regions and districts, prioritize urban and rural populations, create new or grow existing urban settlements, functional urban areas and addressing negative population growth rates in several districts. As to the economic development there has been a structural shift away from agriculture towards services, as well as a shift in the location of economic activity, from rural to urban areas. The text provides for recommendations to address economic challenges as follow: recognise and strengthen Accra as a gateway to international trade, reinforce the role of Kumasi as a national driver of economic growth, satellite city offer opportunity, enhance the role of secondary cities and regional capitals, use the potential of district capitals, strengthen infrastructure and take a more disaggregated approach to the North-South divide.
Ghana's food production system may be characterised as natural resource-based. It includes extensive crop and livestock production systems, hunting, rain-fed agriculture, and fish from natural water bodies. Meanwhile, food production is practiced primarily on small-scale, family-operated farms that are plagued by poor infrastructure, low technology, and lack of access to finance— all resulting in low productivity. One of the NSDF targets in agriculture is that Ghana to become food self-sufficient and to create a more inclusive agricultural economy that provides employment opportunities for its growing population. the text further requires development of infrastructure in the urban areas and to implement policies for development of freight and passenger transport and road network. Chapter 6 assesses the broad environmental context for national spatial development. It discusses the environmental policy framework, land cover and land cover change including wetlands; natural and cultural heritage resources; and mineral resources and the state of the environment in Ghana. NSDF further considers the social development aspects including education, health, housing, basic services, poverty, gender and social welfare. Finally Chapter 8 of the text review the climate change policy and institutional framework. It summaries the causes, trends and forecasts for Ghana, examines the spatial impacts of climate change, and recommends appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures.
The text is drafted in 8 Chapters as follow: Ghana Today – Conditions and Main Issues (1); Population, urbanization and human settlements (2); Economic development and the spatial economy (3); Agriculture (4); Infrastructure (5); Environment and land cover (6); Social development (7); Climate change (8).