Current Urban Studies, 2015, 3, 105-118 Published Online June 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/cus http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cus.2015.32010 How to cite this paper: Abu-Salia, R., Osmannu, I. K., & Ahmed, A. (2015). Coping with the Challenges of Urbanization in Low Income Areas: An Analysis of the Livelihood Systems of Slum Dwellers of the Wa Municipality, Ghana. Current Urban Studies, 3, 105-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cus.2015.32010 Coping with the Challenges of Urbanization in Low Income Areas: An Analysis of the Livelihood Systems of Slum Dwellers of the Wa Municipality, Ghana Raqib Abu-Salia¹, Issaka Kanton Osmannu², Abubakari Ahmed 3 1 Department of Development Studies, University for Development Studies, Wa, Ghana 2 Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University for Development Studies, Wa, Ghana 3 Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana Email: raqueebabu@yahoo.com , kosumanu@uds.edu.gh , abukson1987@gmail.com Received 23 April 2015; accepted 5 June 2015; published 9 June 2015 Copyright © 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract In Ghana, unplanned and spontaneous urbanization has trapped many in slum dwellings with its attendant poverty, insecurity, and poor housing and general environmental conditions. Slum dwellers’ choices of livelihood activities are restricted under various socio-economic and planning constraints. Using mixed methods, this paper explored the conditions under which slum dwellers can maximize the prospects of their environment and minimize the challenges therein. The find- ings indicate that slum dwellers have diversity of livelihood assets and potentials, yet limited access to planned adaptation remains a main challenge. Many dwellers result to autonomous “supplementary occupations” to cope with the challenges of urbanization. It is therefore impera- tive to redefine the mandate of urban planning, as a response to spontaneous urbanization, and to develop a tool for sustainable livelihood at the local level. Keywords Coping Strategies, Livelihoods, Slums, Urbanization, Vulnerability 1. Introduction In recent times, urban trajectories have been unprecedented. The 2012/2013 State of the World Cities Report es- timated that between the periods of 2010 and 2015, there would be an average increment of approximately