TLDR: As Ho Oxygen City loses over 30% of its vegetation to unplanned growth, the city faces a critical choice, either protect its green identity or risk becoming another case study in Ghana’s urban planning failures.
This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Elvis Kofi Bomasah on September 24, 2025, and is republished here with his permission. It has been edited for clarity and context.
Editor’s note: Since this article was written, President Mahama cut the sod for TDC’s Oxygen City housing project in Ho on December 17, 2025. The development question the author raises is now even more urgent.
Ho, the regional capital of Ghana’s Volta Region, proudly carries the nickname “Oxygen City”—a nod to its historically clean air, lush surroundings, and natural beauty. But in recent times, rapid urban expansion, weak policy enforcement, and lack of deliberate planning have steadily eroded the city’s green cover. Without urgent action, the very qualities that earned Ho its identity may be lost.
Ho Oxygen City: A Decline Hidden in Plain Sight?
Remote sensing studies show that between 1985 and 2020, Ho’s vegetated land shrank by about 33% (from 33,336 hectares to 22,341 hectares), while its built-up area more than doubled. From 2000 to 2020 alone, the city’s urbanized footprint expanded sevenfold from roughly 30.7 km² to 224.1 km². Since 2010, growth has shifted from compact expansion to sprawling, low-density development.
The consequences are visible: playing fields converted to markets, open spaces fenced for private use, and recreational grounds lost to construction. The once-busy RTC sports ground, for example, is now a mini-market.
A National and Regional Context
Ho’s green space challenges mirror those of other Ghanaian cities. Kumasi, once celebrated as the “Garden City of West Africa,” has lost nearly 90% of its public park area, leaving only 4.7 m² of green space per person, far below the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 9 m². Accra fares no better, with only about 31% of residents reporting access to a local park. Meanwhile, cities like Kigali, Rwanda, are charting a different course. Its Nyandungu Eco-Park and other initiatives add nearly 500 hectares of new urban green zones. Lagos mandates 8–10% green space in residential developments, while Abidjan reserves 5% of all new projects for parks. Ho can and should adopt similar standards, aiming for at least 10% of municipal land as green space.
Why Green Spaces Matter: The Evidence
Public Health & Mental Wellbeing
- In Accra, 47% of park users report improved mental health from park visits.
- In South Africa, living within a 15-minute walk of a park is linked to a 6% lower rate of depressive symptoms.
- About 47% of Ghanaian park visitors use them for exercise, reducing risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
- Parks are especially vital for children, the elderly, and low-income communities, who often lack access to private recreational facilities.
Environmental Benefits
- Parks reduce flooding by absorbing stormwater, filter pollutants, and cool overheated urban areas.
- In Ghana, over half of households with home gardens report improved air quality as a major benefit.
- For Ho, maintaining these ecological services is critical to sustaining its “Oxygen City” status.
Economic & Social Gains
- Green spaces increase property values and attract visitors.
- They serve as free hubs for cultural events, sports, and community gatherings.
- Their decline in Ho has already displaced youth sports, cultural festivals, and even funerals—forcing these activities onto streets and other unsuitable spaces.
Climate Resilience
- Expanding green cover aligns with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
- Parks act as carbon sinks, reduce heat stress, and make cities more resilient to climate shocks.
Tourism Potential
- Ho’s “Oxygen City” brand could be strengthened through eco-tourism, wellness festivals, and cultural events centered around public parks and green corridors.
The Role of the Ho Municipal Assembly
To reverse the decline, the Ho Municipal Assembly must:
1. Integrate Parks into Planning: Commit to 9–20 m² of green space per person, or at least 10% of urban land. Protect existing parks and designate new sites in every neighbourhood.
2. Enforce Development Regulations: Require housing and commercial projects to include green areas or contribute to a municipal parks fund.
3. Allocate Dedicated Funding: Budget annually for park creation and maintenance, leveraging national programs like Green Ghana and climate financing opportunities.
4. Build Maintenance Capacity: Establish a dedicated parks unit with trained staff and community partnerships. This has already begun with the greening of the median of the Sokode-Ho Dual carriage; however, more efforts need to be made in place to ensure it works.
5. Engage Residents: Launch tree-planting drives, awareness campaigns, and participatory design for new parks.
The Private Sector’s Role
- The private sector can accelerate progress by: Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs): Co-funding and co-managing parks with naming rights or sponsorship recognition. The collaborative work between the Ho Municipal Assembly and the Young and Safe Ho in the redevelopment of the children’s park at Anlokordzi project is a test case in this regard.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Supporting tree planting, urban gardens, and playground construction. Companies like TotalEnergies Ghana and UBA Bank already fund national greening projects.
- Green Innovation: Introducing solar lighting, smart irrigation, and vertical gardens into parks and business zones.
What Needs to Happen Now
Expanding parks in Ho is not a luxury, it is a public health, environmental, and economic necessity. Each additional hectare of green space can lower stress, improve air quality, reduce heat, and provide safe recreation.
If the Ho Municipal Assembly, private sector, and citizens act together now, the city can preserve its clean air, enhance wellbeing, and strengthen its global reputation. The “Oxygen City” can remain true to its name but only if deliberate action is taken before the green fades away.
