Accra/Amsterdam, 12Th of March 2015

Accra/Amsterdam, 12th of March 2015

Subject: Press release for after the Urban Design Event 'Accra Revisited' 25th - 27th of February 2015

DASUDA and ArchiAfrika are proud to inform you that the ‘Accra Revisited: How Creative Impulses Underpinned by Economy and Culture, Can Reshape It’ Urban Design Conference hosted at the Children’s Library on High Street, Accra [25-27 February 2015] has been an exemplary success.

More than 300 visitors, panellists, speakers and members participated at the event in a series of presentations, discussions and workshops and contributed to the debate on how urban design could support inclusive and sustainable urban development in Accra, Ghana and increase the cooperation in this field.

This conference, organised by DASUDA, ArchiAfrika and other partners showcased some of West Africa and European [Dutch] innovative thinkers who brought their perspectives on rethinking Accra’s urban development with an OUTCOMES based approach. The organisation of this event showed how local and foreign partners can work together to develop a relevant contextual based discourse on the African Condition.

It was very important to leave behind a legacy. In line with this goal, the event was held at the historic Children’s Library in Accra, a modernist gem that was in need of some renovation work. In preparation for the conference, the Library was renovated with the support of local companies and organisations and with the conference over, the city now has a renovated and reenergised space for the people of Accra to enjoy.

The event focused on three main topics, one for each day: Wednesday 25th of February: Accra Revisited: Urban Development and Design; Thursday 26th of February: Building on Existing Infrastructure Opportunities; Friday 27th of February: Urban Typologies: New Context Based Approaches and Housing.

The topics were approached in the mornings with seminars and a panel discussions with Dutch and West African professionals, investors, developers and policy makers. In the afternoons workshops sessions were guided by professional teams who worked on practical cases together with the public and the students. Each day closed with a plenary feedback session.

After official opening of the Urban Design Event by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands His Excellency Hans Docter, Chairman of ArchiAfrika Joe Osae-Addo, and Chairman of DASUDA Robert van Kats, several keynotes were delivered by Deputy Minister Jonny Osei Kofi, Ministry for Water Resources, Works and Housing; former Mayor Nat Nuno Amarteifio; Issa Diabaté; Rogier van den Berg, UN-Habitat; Remco Rolvink, DASUDA; and many others.

The highlight of the conference was a special evening at the Old Kingsway building in Jamestown, an ArchiAfrika production sponsored by Coral Paints Ghana. The event was well attended by the Jamestown community, who came to join in an evening featuring a keynote talk by Kunlé Adeyemi and performances by hip hop artist Edem and poet Nana Asaase. This unforgettable evening showed the potential of redevelopment sites in Jamestown.

The conference broke new ground in recent memory, bringing academics, students, professionals, community and opinion leaders together for 3 days to participate in panel discussions and workshops. Students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [KNUST], Central University, The Berlage Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design actively participated in the workshops, while also conducting research as part of an exchange initiative between TU Delft and local Universities.

The conference workshops were focussed on outcomes and projects which will be presented in a publication to local authorities and government in an effort to take the dialogue into a space of implementation. It was important to raise awareness for urban matters in Accra and to engage local and international stakeholders, decision makers, professionals and the general public in a debate on this pressing issue, bringing the private sector and government together in a search for solutions.

The delegates, students and visitors learned from Accra through visiting Jamestown and other parts of town and most of all by sharing knowledge, exchange of ideas and discussion the implementation strategies for the locations and themes subject of the afternoon workshops of the event. , We look forward to following up this event with discussions for collaboration for studies for areas such as Jamestown, housing in the Accra Metropolitan Region and for the future development of Accra.

DASUDA and ArchiAfrika express their gratitude to Co-organisers City Förster and AA Matters. We also thank the Kingdom of The Netherlands and Netherlands Enterprise Agency for their support. HE the Ambassador Hans Docter and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy have been great supporters, hosting the pre-event held at the Netherlands Embassy in Accra in January 2015, and hosting a cocktail event during the conference. Thank you to the local students who aided in the hosting of the conference. Special thanks to UN Habitat and The Berlage Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture and Urban Design.

This event would not have been possible without the support of our local sponsors Coral Paints Ghana, Micheletti & Co. Ltd, BAFLA Ltd, Krane Construction, A&C Development, Advantage Group, Multimedia Group, Little Sun Ghana and the Institute for Music and Development who are responsible for magnificent transformation of the Children’s Library and organised publicity for the event.

Please contact DASUDA Chairman Robert van Kats [details below] or visit www.archiafrika.org for more information on the event

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