Kumasi trees – project of the hearts. Decolonial strategies for advancing urban greenery in a Sub-Saharan city

Rapid expansion in low- and middle-income countries often follows the destructive environmental paths set by wealthier colonial powers. The greatest obstacle is the prevailing mindset: a lack of environmental awareness and continued exploitation of natural and human resources. To achieve sustainable urban planning, it’s vital to avoid colonial practices, raise environmental awareness, and foster local appreciation of the environment as a cultural value. This paper explores decolonial approaches in architecture and urban planning to foster a balanced human-nature relationship and new tools for Sustainability Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the Kumasi Trees – Project of the Hearts as a case study, it shows efforts to re-greening Kumasi, Ghana, through local engagement and knowledge, rediscovering environmental values and cultural identities. The paper examines practices within Decolonial Thought (DT), questioning the universality of Eurocentric thinking, recognizing multiple value systems, and embracing alternative knowledge bases stemming from other cultures.