UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES ANALYSIS OF INFORMAL CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN URBAN GHANA: THE CASE OF KUMASI AND TAMALE BY ERNEST BAGSON (10442291) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES DEGREE INSTITUTE OF STATISTICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH DECEMBER, 2018 DECLARATION I hereby declare that with the exception of references to other works, which I have duly acknowledged, this thesis is the result of my personal efforts and that neither in whole nor in part has this work been presented elsewhere for the award of another degree. ………………………………. Date: ……………................ Ernest Bagson (Candidate) ………………………………. Date: ……………................ Prof. George Owusu (Principal Supervisor) ………………………………. Date: ……………................ Prof. Adobea Yaa Owusu (Supervisor) ………………………………. Date: ……………................ Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio (Supervisor) i DEDICATION This thesis, and whatever it contains of worth, is entirely dedicated to my late parents, Mr. Stephen Bagson and Mrs. Stella Kubio Bagson, whose toil, sweat, and complete commitment to my education have brought me this far. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to sincerely express my profound gratitude to the many people who have helped me in diverse ways to make this work possible. I am greatly indebted to Professor George Owusu, my principal supervisor, of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon, for his continuous support. I also wish to extend my deepest appreciation to my co-supervisors: Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio, Department of Geography and Resource Development, and Prof. Adobea Yaa Owusu of ISSER, University of Ghana, Legon, for their expert advice and inspiration that kept the work on track. I greatly appreciate your shared wisdom and selflessness during all phases of this process. I would further express my appreciation to all the research fellows of ISSER, University of Ghana, Legon for their individual professional guidance given me during my period of study. Their individual criticisms and contributions during seminar presentations collectively helped shape and direct the entire process. The research was supported by grants from IDRC and DFID as part of the research project titled ‘Exploring Poverty and Crime Nexus in Urban Ghana’. But for their generosity, this would have been a mission impossible. Also, I sincerely appreciate the supplementary financial support from the Social Science Research Council that was given to me as a Fellow (2017–2018) of the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa. A special thanks go to the Ghana Police Service for making their data available to me, to all the Assemblymen within the research localities for their invaluable support, and to all the research participants and key informants whose insights have informed this work. A very big thanks goes to the family of Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio for their encouragement and support during my stay in Accra. I really appreciate their continuous reminder that there is a world outside academia and that this world can be the most wonderful place of all when shared with the right people. I will specially thank the Bagson family, my wife Ruth Kuumane and the children, Deltaar and Danno, who have endured my long absence from home. iii LIST OF ACRONYMS ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution AIC Australian Institute of Criminology ATR African Traditional Religion BNI Bureau of National Investigation CBD Central Business District CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design CSDG Conflict, Security and Development Group DFID Department for International Development DOVVSU Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit EA Enumeration Areas FGD Focus Group Discussion GDP Gross Domestic Product GPI Global Peace Index GPS Ghana Police Service GPS Global Positioning System GSS Ghana Statistical Service ICPC International Centre for the Prevention of Crime IDRC International Development Research Centre IGP Inspector General of Police ISSER Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research KII Key Informant Interview KMA Kumasi Metropolitan Area MESTI Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation MP Member of Parliament NCA National Communication Authority NDC National Democratic Congress NPP New Patriotic Party OSCE Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe SCB Strong Community Bonding SITU Statistics Information and Technology Unit SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences TCPD Town and Country Planning Department TMA Tamale Metropolitan Area UNODC United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................................. I DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................... III LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... V LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... XI LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... XII LIST OF BOXES ........................................................................................................ XIV ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................XV CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the study ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................ 6 1.3 The research questions .......................................................................................... 13 1.4 The research objectives......................................................................................... 14 1.5 Justification of the study ....................................................................................... 14 1.6 Definition of concepts........................................................................................... 15 1.7 Thesis structure ..................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW, THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................... 19 2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Urbanization and security ..................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Urban density and implications for security .................................................. 23 2.2.2 Urban informality and security ...................................................................... 25 v 2.2.3 Urban spatial expansion and implications for safety and security ................. 26 2.3 Socio-ecological theories of crime and criminogenic outcomes .......................... 28 2.3.1 Social Disorganization Theory....................................................................... 28 2.3.2 Collective Efficacy Theory ............................................................................ 32 2.3.3 Routine Activity Theory ................................................................................ 34 2.4 Maintaining public safety and security: Strategies and policies ........................... 37 2.4.1 Perspectives from criminology ...................................................................... 37 2.4.2 Problem-based policing and core principles .................................................. 40 2.4.3 Maintaining urban security in the Ghanaian context ..................................... 44 2.4.4 Constitutional and legal framework on the provision of internal security in Ghana ...................................................................................................................... 46 2.4.5 Socio-cultural mechanisms in maintaining security in Ghana ....................... 50 2.4.6 Community policing and the role of informal stakeholders in maintaining internal security ....................................................................................................... 53 2.5 Conceptual framework.......................................................................................... 56 2.6 Chapter summary .................................................................................................. 61 CHAPTER THREE: THE STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY ..................... 62 3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 62 3.2 Description of the study area ................................................................................ 62 3.2.1 Kumasi, the Garden City of Ghana ................................................................ 63 3.2.2 The population and local economic dynamics in Kumasi ............................. 65 3.2.3 Tamale: The rising