Urban redevelopment, cultural heritage, poverty and redistribution: the case of Old Accra and Adawso House

There is a complex relationship between cultural heritage and poverty. This relationship is particularly evident in the depletion of historical centers. In addition, when considered along with the impact of the intertwined forces of urbanization and modernization, it may result in the dangerous threatening of the cultural tracts, social structure and urban patterns of the poor living in historical centers. All this seems to have happened in old Accra, the historical center of the capital city of Ghana. The paper tries to analyze this complex relationship as it is manifested in Ga Mashie and its impacts on the poor indigenous population. It also suggests some policy recommendations, in particular, the fact that urban redevelopment projects of dilapidated historical districts have to genuinely consider the delicate and peculiar environment in which they are based. The financial elements of the intervention, for instance, might have to be differentiated from the typical ones used in peripheral slum upgrading projects, opening new rooms for a substantial redistribution of wealth.