Leveraging on urban ecological citizenship to create sustainable Ghanaian cities

Ecological citizenship offers a normative explanation of how residents should lead their lives sustainably within the restraints of free market economies. However, in practice, less scholarship has characterised the understanding, perception, and practice of ecological citizenship from the Global South context. Thus, using a cross-case design, this paper draws on multiple methods, including 209 and 197 household surveys in Aboabo (an informal settlement) and Nhyiaeso (a formal settlement), respectively, three in-depth interviews, four focus group discussions, field observations, and document analysis to examine how residents respond to the city’s environmental problems. The results show a generally poor perception and practice of ecological citizenship in Aboabo compared to their counterparts in Nhyiaeso. The Nhyiaeso residents largely desilt gutters, planted trees and lawns, engaged in public education campaigns, neighbourhood clean-up exercises and properly disposed of waste. Strong community networks and educational initiatives emerged as key enablers of ecological citizenship practice. This distinguishes them from residents in Aboabo who, though, acknowledge their role in the environmental problems, care little. The poor environmental management at Aboabo and the behaviour of its residents is, to some extent, a rebellion against the neglect by city authorities. This is, however, worrying since habitual behaviours may often be resistant to change. The plausible ways to enhance ecological citizenship have been proffered in the paper.