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Conceptualising an Urban Transport Framework for Enhanced Quality of Life in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Studies of Ghana and Namibia

Details:

Year published: 2022
Categories: Book Chapter
URL Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-17327-1_10

Author / Authors:

  • Eric Yankson

Abstract

Part of the The Urban Book Series book series (UBS)

Abstract

Unpacking the ramifications of urban transport for quality of life is pivotal for evaluating the pros and cons of national or local policy options. In the sub-Saharan African context, such an enquiry serves to comprehend how different modes of transport affect the state of the physical environment, as well as public health and social equity. This chapter therefore assesses the implications of urban transport for quality of life through a comparative analysis of Ghana and Namibia. The Ghanaian case study instantiates how the dominance of mini-buses (trotros), as well as private vehicles in major cities, results in outcomes such as traffic congestion and pollution. Moreover, the case of Namibia demonstrates a socio-spatial tapestry of inequality characterised by the prevalence of taxis and private vehicles in sprawled cities. The chapter articulates a conceptual framework premised on the tripod of environment, health and equity. The model argues that deleterious urban transport impacts such as pollution must be addressed through alternative modes and policy reforms. Also, the implications of transport options for the health of residents should define the choices made by the central government or local authorities. Additionally, the needs of groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, the physically challenged, children and low-income residents ought to be considered when designing transport options for use by urban residents. The chapter contributes to existing scholarship by unpacking the dialectical ramifications of urban transport for quality of life. This serves to enrich the discourse on sustainable development through the lens of transport policy options and outcomes.

Keywords
Urban transport,
Quality of life,
Environment,
Health,
Equity,


Categories:

  • Book Chapter