Land use dynamics in rural-urban environs: a study of the Kumasi metropolis and its adjoining districts – Ghana

Land development and consumption have spun out of control in major cities in Ghana. Kumasi as the second main and fastest growing city with an annual population growth rate of 5.4% in Ghana is experiencing this phenomenon. Land use/cover change in rural–urban peripheral is foremost to these dynamic changes. This study is premised on remote sensing and GIS methods to explore urbanization in Kumasi rural–urban fringe. Satellite data (Landsat multi-temporal images and Disaster Monitoring Constellation-DMC) and GIS techniques were used to analyze and compute the land cover changes (amount, trend and location) that had transpired for the period of 1986 to 2011. This study assesses the nature, extent and impact of urban growth (compact and sprawl) on Kumasi and surrounding districts. The study showed that, forest loss is massive, agricultural activities in Kumasi is receding as the years go but intensifying in the fringe districts. Settlements are expanding in all directions at the expense of farmland but firstly along the roads.