Godwin Arku

Assistant Professor

Research Interests

My research spans ‘urban’ and ‘economic’ sub-division of human geography, especially as they relate to the transformation of urban systems in a changing global environment. I am also interested in issues of third world development. Specific areas of present research interests are:

1. Housing and economic development
2. Urban development and policy analysis
3. Regional and local economic development policy and planning
4. Third World development issues (esp. Africa)

Publications (past 7 years)

Refereed Journals

Arku, G. (forthcoming) 'Competition and Cooperation in Economic Development: Examining the Perceptions of Practitioners in Ontario' Journal of Urban Affairs DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9906.2012.00647.x

Arku, G. (forthcoming) 'Outsourcing Functions to Economic Development Corporations? Exploring the Perceptions of Officials in Ontario, Canada' Public Organization Review DOI 10.1007/s11115-012-0193-8

Sadler, R., Gilliland, J. and Arku, G. (forthcoming) 'Community Development and the Influence of New Food Retail Sources on the Price and Availability of Nutritious Food' Journal of Urban Affairs DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9906.2012.00624x

Arku, G., Luginaah, I. and Mkandawire, P. 2012 ' ‘You Either Pay More Advance Rent or You Move Out’: Landlords and Tenants Dilemma in the Low Housing Market in Accra, Ghana' Urban Studies 49(14): 3177-3193

Oosterbaan, C., Arku, G. and Asiedu, B.A. 2012 'Conversion of Residential Units into Offices and Commercial Spaces in Accra: a policy dilemma' International Planning Studies 17(1): 45-66

Arku, G., Luginaah, I., Mkandawire, P., Baiden, P. and Asiedu, A.B. 2011 'Housing and Health in three Contrasting Neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana' Social Science & Medicine 72(11): 1864-1872

Arku, G., Kemp, J. & Gilliland, J. 2011 'Analysis of Public Debates on Urban Growth Pattersn in London, Ontario' Local Environment 16(2): 147-163

Sadler, R., Gilliland, J. and Arku, G. 2011 'An Appliation of the Edge Effect in Measuring Accessibility to Multiple Food Retailer Types in Southwestern Ontario' International Journal of Health Geographies 10(34)

Baiden, P., Arku, G. Luginaah, I. & Asiedu, A.B. 2011 'An Assessment of Residents' Housing Satisfaction and Coping' Journal of Public Health 19(1): 29-37

Hayek, M., Novak, M., Arku, G. and Gilliland, J. 2010 'Mapping Industrial Legacies: Building a Spatially-Referenced Comprehensive Brownfield Database in GIS' Planning Practice and Research 25(4): 461-475

Allotey, N., Arku, G. and Amponsah, P.E. 2010 'An Urban Earthquake-Disaster Planning: The Case of Accra' International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment 1(2):140-156

Hayek, M., Arku, G. and Gilliland, J. 2010 'Assessing London Ontario’s Brownfield Redevelopment Effort to Promote Urban Intensification' Local Environment 15(4): 389–402

Hayek, M., Novak, M., Arku, G. and Gilliland, J. 2010 'Building a Brownfield database with historical GIS' Planning Practise & Research 25(4): 461 – 475

Luginaah, I., Arku, G. and Baiden, P. 2010 'Housing and Health: Psychosocial and Well-being Impacts of Renting a Home in the AMA' International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health 7: 528-545

Arku, G. 2009 'Rapidly Growing African Cities Need to Adopt Smart Growth Policies to Solve Urban Problems' Urban Forum 20(3): 253-270

Arku, G. 2009 'The Economics of Housing Programmes in Ghana, 1929-1966' Planning Perspectives 24(3): 281-300

Asiedu, B.A. and Arku, G. 2009 'The Rise of Gated Housing Estates: Experiences from three Communities in Accra Metropolis' Journal of Housing and the Built environment 24(3): 227-247

Arku, G. 2009 'Housing Policy Changes in Ghana in the 1990s' Housing Studies 24(2): 261-272

Harris, R. and Arku, G. 2007 'The Rise of Housing in International Development:  The Effects of Economic Discourse' Habitat International 31(1): 1-11

Arku, G. 2006 'Housing and Economic Development Debate Revisited: economic significance of housing in developing countries' Journal of Housing and the Built Environment 21(4): 377-395

Arku, G. 2006 'Housing and Development Strategies in Ghana' International Development Planning Review 28 (3):  333-358

Harris, R. and Arku, G. 2006 'Housing and Economic Development:  The Evolution of An Idea Since 1945' Habitat International 30 (4): 1007-1017

Arku, G. and Harris, R. 2005 'Housing as a Tool of Economic Development Since 1929'  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 29(4): 895-915.

Chapters in Books

Arku, G. 2010 ‘Geography and Environment’ in Africa and the Wider World ed H. Tijani, R. Njoku, and T. Jones (Pearson Prentice Hall) 1-18

Arku, G. and Mkandawire, P. (2009) "Precarious Balance: The future of Environmental Degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa" in Environment and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Managing an Emerging Crisis ed I.N. Luginaah and E.K. Yanful (Springer: London) 141-154

Mkandawire, P. and Arku, G. 2009 'Environmental Legislations and Regulations in Sub-Saharan Africa: 'Green Development' or 'Green Imperialism'?' in Environment and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Managing an Emerging Crisis ed I.N. Luginaah and E.K. Yanful (Springer: London) 95-110

Supervised Graduate Students and Theses Titles

Ph.D. Students Year Title
V. Kuuire

(co-supervised)

 Current TBA
S. McFarlane-Morris
(co-supervised)		 Current TBA
R. Sadler

(co-supervised)

 Current A Comparison of ‘food desert’ in Ontario and Michigan
MA Students Year Title
E. Cleave Current TBA
L. McIntosh
(co-supervised)		 Current TBA
T. Thayer
(co-supervised)		 Current TBA
M. Taabazuing 2012 Economic development in a knowledge-based economy: perceptions of directors and consultants in Ontario
M. Zaami
(co-supervised)		 2012 Experiences of Socio-Apatial Exclusin among Ghanaian Immigrant Yourth in Toronto: Case Study of Jane-Finch Neighbourhood
V. Kuuire

(co-supervised)

 2011 Food Security Situation of Migrant Farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana
R. Sadler

(co-supervised)

 2010 Upgrade from Masters Program to PhD Program
M. Hayek 2009 Brownfield redevelopment in London, Ontario: Developing a methodology for creating a Brownfield database and an examination of policy initiatives aimed at promoting redevelopment
C. Oosterbaan 2009 Economic reforms and changing urban landscape of Accra and Kumasi: the conversion of residential units into commercial and office spaces

Also from this web page:

 

  • Office: SSC 2427
  • Telephone: 519-661-2111 x 85343
  • e-mail: garku@uwo.ca
  • McMaster, 2005

 

Courses Taught