Examining the Challenges of Implementing Land Use Plans in Tamale, Ghana

Introduction: Land use planning is central to sustainable urban development, yet its implementation remains a persistent challenge in rapidly growing African cities. Ghana’s planning system, despite legal reforms such as the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act (Act 925 of 2016), continues to face institutional fragmentation, customary–statutory conflicts, and limited enforcement. By situating the analysis in both global and national debates, the study contributes to understanding the systemic challenges facing land use planning in Ghana and offers practical recommendations for strengthening institutional coordination, community engagement, and environmental resilience. Aim: This study examined the barriers to land use plan implementation in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Methods: A mixed-methods case study was employed, which triangulated survey data with insights from key informants across statutory and customary institutions. Quantitative data were collected from 152 households selected through multi-stage sampling and analysed using SPSS version 26 for descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were gathered through 15 key informant interviews with officials from the Lands Commission, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), and traditional authorities. Thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts, with triangulation across data sources to enhance rigour. Results: Most households (70%) reported no involvement in scheme preparation, and only 30% possessed building permits. Over 60% reported environmental problems such as flooding, poor drainage, and encroachment on open spaces. Key informants identified weak inter-agency coordination, inadequate resources, political interference, and unregulated customary land allocations as major barriers. Verbatim accounts highlighted how chiefs’ land sales often undermined statutory zoning, while officials cited difficulties in enforcing buffer zones and public space protection. Conclusion: The findings confirm that fragmented institutions, low participation, weak records, and conflicts with customary authorities undermine effective implementation. Addressing these challenges requires stronger inter-agency task forces, integration of traditional leaders into statutory planning, streamlined digital permitting, and public education on planning compliance. Enforcing ecological buffers and modernising land records will also enhance urban resilience in Tamale and provide lessons for similar contexts in Ghana.