Resettlement Neighborhood Satisfaction

2016

English

Purpose; The objective of this study is to ascertain the satisfaction level of resettled commercial areas in Kumasi, Ghana.Research Design; The study involves an in-depth study on the Resettlement neighbourhood Satisfaction through literature review. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted in three commercial neighbourhoods; (the Afia Kobi II (Abinkyi) market, Moro market and Sokoban wood village) within the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Research Limitations; The use of both the closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires through the purposive sampling method limited the survey to only the occupants within the above-mentioned commercial areas. Findings; The survey data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The study brings to fore the occupants‘ judgment and assessment of their newly designated environment. Personal interviews with 100 occupants revealed that there have been various aspects of change depicted by socio-economic patterns differentiated at variance by settlement. The study also established that, while some of the occupants are advantaged in-terms of accessibility to goods and services, others are relatively disadvantaged. Some of the occupants in this study showed difficulty in adjusting to their changing commercial needs although they had strong desires to do so. Practical Implications; while the resettlement has brought about improvement in the lives of occupants of the Sokoban wood village, lives of the other two resettlement (Afia Kobi II (Abinkyi market) and Moro market occupants) leave much to be desired. Originality; The case study explores the resettlement neighbourhood satisfaction in some selected commercial areas in Kumasi, Ghana, bringing to bare the occupants‘ judgment, perceptions and assessment of their newly designated locations. The findings will serve as a template for future relocation and resettlement programmer for other developing countries.

Twumasi-Ampofo, K.; Osei-Tutu, E.; Asamoah, R. O.; Ofori, P. A.; Danquah, J.