In rapidly urbanising cities, green spaces have become a luxury rather than a necessity, leaving many communities without access to parks and recreational areas.

However, a Ghanaian scholar is on a mission to change this. Rexford Osei Owusu, a doctoral student in Metropolitan Planning, Policy, and Design at the University of Utah, USA, is conducting groundbreaking research to address the disparities in access to urban green spaces.

His work not only highlights the environmental and social benefits of these spaces but also provides actionable solutions to bridge the gap between supply and demand, particularly in underserved communities.

Originally from Ghana, Osei Owusu is an alumnus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and furthered his education with an MSc. in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

His research journey began with his thesis, “Urban Green in Deprived Areas: The Match Between Supply of and Demand for Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Spaces – The Case of Kumasi, Ghana”.

This work, now published in the journal Environmental Science & Policy under the title “Supply and Demand of Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Spaces in Deprived Areas: Perceptions from Kumasi, Ghana”, sheds light on the inequities in urban green space distribution and the challenges faced by communities with limited access to these essential resources.

Focusing on Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, Osei Owusu’s research combines field surveys, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, and stakeholder interviews to assess how urban green spaces meet the needs of the local population in deprived areas.

His findings reveal a significant mismatch between the supply of ecosystem services—such as air quality improvement, recreational opportunities, and temperature regulation—and the growing demand from rapidly urbanizing communities.

Many of these communities, already struggling with environmental issues and limited public spaces, find themselves further disadvantaged due to poor planning and inequitable distribution of green infrastructure.

Recognising the transformative role that well-planned green spaces can play in urban areas, Osei Owusu is advocating for policies that prioritise equitable access to these essential resources.

His research underscores the need for participatory urban planning, where local communities have a say in the design and management of green spaces.

He believes that by aligning the supply of green spaces with actual community needs, cities like Kumasi can become healthier, more resilient, and better equipped to address environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

But for Osei Owusu, research alone is not enough. His vision extends beyond academic discussions to real-world implementation.

Drawing inspiration from local government initiatives and international best practices, he is pushing for practical solutions such as restoring degraded parks, integrating green infrastructure into informal settlements, and promoting community-led urban greening initiatives.

These efforts, he believes, can serve as a blueprint for sustainable urban development not just in Ghana but across sub-Saharan Africa, where many cities face similar challenges.

His work highlights the urgent need to shift the narrative around urban green spaces from being a privilege to being recognized as a fundamental right.

By addressing systemic inequalities in access to these spaces, Osei Owusu is paving the way for more inclusive and sustainable urban environments.

His research serves as a call to action for urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders to rethink how cities are designed and ensure that no community is left behind in the push for greener, healthier urban spaces.