A comparative study of domestic gardening across socioeconomic and housing contexts in two urban communities in Greater Accra, Ghana

This study examines the potential of domestic gardens to support urban sustainability in Greater Accra, Ghana. It explores homeowners’ perceptions of the social, economic, and ecological benefits of domestic gardening and identifies the main factors influencing engagement across two socioeconomically distinct communities, East Legon and Kwabenya. A comparative quantitative survey design, complemented by illustrative field observations, was used to collect data from 226 household heads through structured questionnaires. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to examine differences in perceptions between the two communities, while the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the perceived ecological, personal, and economic drivers of domestic gardening. The results indicate significant differences between the two communities in perceptions of healthy eating ( r = 0.804), poverty reduction ( r = 0.490), and sustainable technology adoption ( r = 0.316). Despite these differences, homeowners in both communities recognized several important ecological functions of domestic gardening, particularly microclimate regulation, flood mitigation, and soil enrichment. Field observations further illustrate differences in gardening practices, ranging from ornamental and technology-supported gardens in East Legon to more food-oriented gardens in Kwabenya. The findings highlight domestic gardens as important socio-ecological assets in sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities and provide evidence for incorporating private residential green spaces into broader urban sustainability and climate adaptation strategies.