But what is generalised as informal architecture and urbanism includes not just marginal constructions such as ‘slums’, ‘kiosks’, and ‘shacks’ but also a vast assortment of carefully constructed and capital-intensive buildings created outside the purview of professional institutions and governments such as shopping complexes, factories, and mansions. Indeed, I contend that this latter group makes up a significant proportion of this informal category and, thus, a substantial portion of the African built environment. Focusing on the case of present-day Ghana, in this essay, I show how a significant proportion of the African built environment has been misunderstood in academic research and overlooked as ‘informal’, distorting research and policies around architecture and urbanism on the continent.