Public Lecture: African cities and the Sustainable Development Goals: Political Settlement Analysis of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana; Speaker: Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah (University of Ghana)

MIASA Conference Room, 7th November 2023

Abstract:

The role of politics in the enforcement of SDG 11 cannot be overemphasized. This goal is focused on cities, with targets to enhance access to basic services and safe, affordable housing, improve slums, increase public transportation, encourage inclusive and sustainable urbanization, safeguard cultural and natural heritage, lower the number of disaster fatalities, and boost resilience. Ensuring these requires political will to commit resources and efforts. To what extent do city authorities get motivated to take required measures to control human-induced disaster risks? Understanding this and related dynamics calls for political settlement analysis to examine particular policy decisions; actions and inactions of city authorities related to the Goal. Using the Accra Metropolitan Assembly as a case, this study examines the practical constraints encountered by conscientious city authorities in their efforts to strictly adhere to their mandate of ensuring safer and cleaner cities in the spirit of SDG 11.

Dr Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah is a Senior Lecturer and the MPhil Coordinator at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana. He is a member of the American Political Science Association (ASPA). He has previously served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDeG), a policy think tank in Accra. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Public Administration from the University of Ghana. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public & Development Management from the School of Public Leadership, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.  He has served as a TRECCAFRICA Fellow in Sustainability Studies at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Yeboah-Assiamah has also had a Post-Doctoral Training at the Global Development Institute (GDI) in the University of Manchester, UK as a GCRF Fellow. Emmanuel is a verified reviewer for many reputable journals including, inter alia, the Journal of Public Affairs (published by Wiley & Sons); Journal of Asian and African Studies (published by Sage); International Journal of Public Leadership (published by Emerald); Forest Policy & Economics (Elsevier); Society & Natural Resources; Administrative Theory & Praxis; Third World Quarterly (all published by Taylor and Francis).