Can the COVID-19 pandemic create a context for participatory urban e-planning in the Wa Municipality of Ghana?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In many countries, policy and law have been reformed to make urban planning more participatory. Despite these initiatives, urban planning typically continues to be characterised by low participation. Drawing on the literature on social media and participatory e-planning, the paper argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided new opportunities for the introduction of effective e-participation in planning. We use a qualitative research approach to investigate how social media provides avenues for e-participation in planning in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. The assessment highlights how increased use of social media in the pandemic era may not necessarily translate into effective participatory e-planning largely due to poor internet infrastructure.