DanKing442/LAND-USE-LAND-COVER-OF-ACCRA

LULC OF ACCRA # LAND-USE-LAND-COVER-OF-ACCRA LULC OF ACCRA The Greater Accra Region (GAR) is the smallest of Ghana’s sixteen administrative regions in terms of land area, covering about 3,245 km², yet it is the most densely populated, with over five million people according to the 2021 census. It is located in the south-eastern part of Ghana along the Gulf of Guinea and serves as the nation’s political, administrative, and commercial hub, with Accra as the regional and national capital. The region is highly urbanized, with large portions of land converted into built-up areas such as Accra, Tema, and their surrounding metropolitan districts, reflecting rapid urban growth and expansion. Despite this urban dominance, the region still retains patches of vegetation, mostly made up of coastal savanna grasslands, shrubs, and some wetlands, although these are increasingly fragmented due to human activities. Water bodies such as the Korle Lagoon, Sakumo Lagoon, Densu River, and the Gulf of Guinea coastline are important ecological and economic resources, while bare land is relatively limited and often associated with cleared plots, quarrying, or degraded areas. This unique mix of urban sprawl, natural vegetation, water bodies, and degraded land highlights the dynamic land use and land cover (LULC) patterns in Greater Accra, making it a critical region for planning and sustainable development initiatives in Ghana.