Accra

== Demographics ==
The period between 1960 and 1970 saw rapid industrialization and expansion in Accra's manufacturing and commercial sectors. This contributed to high [[rural-urban migration]] to the city, and consequently a high population growth rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3004 |title=A repository of all districts in the republic of Ghana |publisher=Ghana Districts |access-date=5 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711091853/http://ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=1&_=3&sa=3004 |archive-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> The stagnation of the Ghanaian economy during the 1970s slowed the growth of Accra's population, as shown by the falling growth rate of the 1970–1984 intercensal years. Later, however, the decline in agriculture in rural communities in Ghana and rising industrialization in urban regions, coupled with the late-1980s boom in the [[service sector]], once again propelled immigration to Accra. The primacy of the Accra Metropolitan Area as the Greater Accra region's administrative, educational, industrial and commercial centre continues to be the major force for its population growth, with immigration contributing to over 35% of the Accra's population growth.

=== Distribution and density ===
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The gross density of population for the Accra Metropolitan Area in 2000 was 10.03 persons per hectare, compared to 6.23 per hectare in 1970. The highest densities were recorded in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, with an overall average of 69.3 persons per hectare. At the community level, densities exceeding 250 persons per hectare occurred mostly in the immigrant and depressed areas in the oldest parts of Accra, such as Accra New Town, Nima, Jamestown and Usshertown. In higher-income areas, densities ranged between 17.5 and 40 persons per hectare.

=== Population distribution by age and gender ===
Accra's population is a very youthful one, with 56% of the population being under 24 years of age. This predominance of young people is not expected to decline in the foreseeable future. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the population are females, and the remaining 49% males. This gives a males-to-females ratio of 1:1.04. The greater number of females is a reflection of the nationwide trend, where the estimated ratio of males to females is 1:1.03.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mba|first=Chuks J.|date=29 September 2010|title=Population Ageing in Ghana: Research Gaps and the Way Forward|journal=Journal of Aging Research|volume=2010|page=672157|doi=10.4061/2010/672157 |doi-access=free|issn=2090-2204|pmc=3003962|pmid=21188229}}</ref>

=== Migration ===
Decentralization is expected to reduce the migration rates in Accra. An assessment of the extent of migration to Accra, based on present locality and gender, reveals that 45% of residents in Accra are African immigrants from countries across the African continent.

=== Housing ===
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Parts of Central Accra comprise a mixture of very low-density development with under-used service infrastructure on the one hand, high-density development and overstretched infrastructure services on the other. The growth of Accra has led to the neglect of some of the old settlements, whilst efforts are being made to provide the newly developing suburban areas with services and infrastructure to cater for the needs of the middle-income earners. Peripheral residential development in Accra barely has sufficient infrastructure to support it. There are also large numbers of uncompleted houses, interspersed with pockets of undeveloped land, which are often subject of litigation, due to the inability of organisations and individuals who own them to complete or develop them due to lack of funds. Housing can be grouped into three broad categories: the low-income, middle-income and high-income areas. The low-income housing areas comprise Osu, Jamestown, Adedenkpo, Chorkor, La, Teshie, Nungua, Sukura, Kwashieman, Odorkor, Bubiashie, Abeka, Nima, Maamobi and Chorkor. Altogether, these areas accommodate about 58% of Accra's total population. Most of Accra's informal businesses are located in low-income areas.

Almost all low-income areas are built up with little room for expansion. This is particularly so in the areas of the inner city. The middle-income areas of Accra are predominantly populated by Ghanaian citizens and business, administrative and professional families. Much of the housing in these areas has been provided by state, parastatal and private sector organisations and individuals. The middle-income areas include Dansoman Estates, North Kaneshie Estates, Asylum Down, Kanda Estates, Abelempke, Achimota, Adenta and Tesano. Usually, these areas, unlike the low-income areas, are planned developments, but are in need of infrastructure services. Building materials and general housing conditions are of better quality. The middle-income group comprises 32% of the city's population of which are Ghanaian citizens make up. The high-income areas provide housing for the remaining 10% of the population of which Ghanaian citizens also make up. They include areas like North Ridge and West Ridge, Ringway Estates, north Labone Estates, Airport Residential Area, Roman Ridge, East Legon.

These areas are all planned and have well developed infrastructure with spacious and landscaped ground in sharp contrast with, particularly, the low-income areas. Buildings are usually built with [[sandcrete]] blocks, and have walls and roofed with aluminium, or [[asbestos]] roofing sheets. There are also high-income peripheral areas like Haatso, Kwabenya, Pokuase, Adenta, Taifa, Mallam, where development of engineering infrastructure is not yet complete. These areas developed ahead of infrastructure, however the Achimota-Ofankor [[controlled-access highway]] was scheduled to open in May 2012,{{Update inline|date=December 2014}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/383369/achimota-ofankor-road-to-open-to-traffic-in-may.html |title=Achimota-Ofankor Road To Open To Traffic in May |work=graphic.com.gh |publisher=[[Daily Graphic (Ghana)|Daily Graphic]] |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=22 April 2016 |via=Modern Ghana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512234613/https://www.modernghana.com/news/383369/achimota-ofankor-road-to-open-to-traffic-in-may.html |archive-date=12 May 2016  }}and the Awoshie-Pokuase</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Environmental-and-Social-Assessments/Ghana-Awoshie-Pokuase%20Road%20ESIA%20Summary%20board%20board%2020%201%2009.pdf |title=Ghana: Awoshie-Pokuase Road Projet |publisher=afdb.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723071937/http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Environmental-and-Social-Assessments/Ghana-Awoshie-Pokuase%20Road%20ESIA%20Summary%20board%20board%2020%201%2009.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2013}}</ref> [[dual carriageway]] [[road construction]] was also due to be completed in 2012.{{Update inline|date=December 2014}} In total, 84.4% of all houses in the Accra Metropolitan Area have their outside walls made up of cement. Similarly, houses found within Accra have 99.2% of their floor materials made up of cement.{{clear|right}}