Understanding the drivers of green roofs and green walls adoption in Global South cities: Analysis of Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Green infrastructure alternatives such as green roofs and walls (GRGW) are part of nature-based solutions for managing complex urban environmental, health, and well-being challenges. The burgeoning acceptance of GRGW, particularly in the Global North, is primarily ascribed to the wide recognition of multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits. To promote more GRGW adoption in the Global South, it is essential to understand its driving forces. However, such studies remain limited. This study aims to identify the GRGW adoption drivers in Ghana. Fourteen key benefits of GRGW were identified from a literature review and a questionnaire survey (N = 505) of stakeholders from 14 groups across five strata in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana. The findings reveal that Ghana's top five GRGW adoption drivers are promoting health and well-being, improving air quality and carbon sequestration, contributing recreational and leisure functions, raising property value, and augmenting aesthetics. Stakeholders prioritized socio-cultural and amenity drivers. Stormwater and flood abatement was weakly endorsed as a significant driver despite Accra's history of flooding. The t-test analysis confirmed that 12 out of the 14 drivers were statistically significant, while Kendall's W test showed fair consensus within the 14 diverse stakeholder groups in their rankings of the driving forces. This study improves GRGW research and development in understudied regions. It may act as a catalyst for the GRGW movement in Ghana and other developing economies.