This paper discusses the factors that influence the scale and nature of pov
erty in Kumasi, with a special focus on the role of city government and oth
er governmental bodies. It reviews critically the impact of city government
's policies on the livelihoods of poorer groups and their access to essenti
al services, and notes the limited impact of democratization and decentrali
zation on improving the performance of government agencies, particularly in
relation to the urban poor. If also discusses what factors have helped to
limit the scale and extent of poverty, including the role of traditional la
nd allocation systems, donor involvement and supportive Ethnic networks.