Urban Transport Infrastructure and Population Dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Bamenda City, Cameroon

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure has become one of the key development factors in urban centers of sub-Saharan Africa. However, a nuanced understanding of the links between the state of urban transport structures and the mutations in urban populations exist. We contribute to clarify this nuance, by using a case study of Bamenda – a primate city par excellence. Bamenda provides an interesting case study because of its centrality and it rapidly growing population. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we randomly surveyed 400 household heads within the urban hub of Bamenda. This data was complemented with key informant and expert interviews to target stakeholders. Multiple Linear Regression analysis (at 0.05 levels of significance) led us to the following conclusions: location choice was influenced by a combination of transport structures, commercialization, land affordability, labour and educational factors, and where transportation factors are prioritized over other factors in location selection and spatial population concentration in Bamenda. The study findings contribute to edify urban development planning, with regards to unbundling the links between transport infrastructure and the dynamics of urban population. Further empirical evidence is required to ground this assertion.