Browsing by Author "Asiedu, A.B."
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Item An Asanteman–World Bank Heritage Development Initiative in Promoting Partnership with Ghanaian Traditional Leaders(2009) Asiedu, A.B.; Labi, K.A.; Osei-Tutu, B.This paper discusses the identification and documentation of Asante heritage assets in an initiative between the World Bank and the Asanteman Council, the traditional governing authority of the Asante people of Ghana. The paper develops a documentation model based on recommended international standards for safeguarding this patrimony. The authors make proposals for engaging and strengthening traditional authorities and other stakeholders in the documentation, valuation, and preservation of Asante heritage. In addition, they make recommendations for the creation of appropriate institutions and strategies to use these assets for wealth creation and development and its replication elsewhere.Item An Assessment of Environmental and Economic Effects of Tourism in Communities around Wli Waterfalls and Lake Bosomtwi in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2016) Aniapam, A.D.; Asiedu, A.B.; Nyame, F.K.; Osei–Asare, W.B.; University of Ghana, Basic and Applied Sciences, Institute for Environment and Sanitation StudiesThe study sought to assess the effects of tourism on the environment and economic activities in the communities around Lake Bosomtwi and Wli Waterfalls. Methodology used included analysis of water samples from the Lake and Waterfall. Satellite images covering the period between 1990 and 2010 of land use around the Lake Bosomtwi and Wli Waterfalls were also analyzed to see if tourism is affecting vegetative cover around the Lake Bosomtwi and Wli Waterfalls. In addition, a social survey and detailed observation of anthropogenic activities were also made to determine the perceived effects of tourism on environment and economic activities. Also, the relationship between environmental effects on socio–economic activities was investigated. Finally, the level of participation of residents in the management of the tourism resources in their community was assessed. Values recorded for physical parameters in the Wli Waterfalls were below the acceptable limits for WHO standards for drinking water. The values ranged between 23.6oC to 27.9oC (mean= 25.8oC), 6.1-8.7 (mean= 7.5), 2.217μS/cm to 101.117μS/cm (mean= 43.217μS/cm), 5.2NTU to 39.2 NTU (mean= 14.9 NTU) 8.6mg/L to 32.6mg/L (mean= 15.9mg/L) for temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and TDS respectively. With the exception of conductivity (1038 μS/cm to 1381 μS/cm; mean= 1263 μS/cm) and pH (7.4 to 9.6; mean= 8.98), which were above the acceptable limits of WHO standards for drinking water, the rest of physical parameters recorded in the Lake Bosomtwi were also below the acceptable limits of WHO standards for drinking water. Coliforms contents of both water bodies; 505cfc/100mL to 2208cfc/100mL (mean=1078cfc/100mL) and 584cfc/100mL to 2603cfc/100mL (mean= 1248cfc/100mL) for Wli Waterfalls and Lake Bosomtwi respectively were far above the acceptable limits for WHO standards for drinking water. Values recorded for peak periods (festive occasions when influx of tourists was high) were slightly higher than values recorded for the lean periods (nonfestive occasions when influx of tourists was very low). The differences were however not significant. While vegetation cover around Wli Waterfalls experienced a diversity of changes that of Lake Bosomtwi was a continuous decline. Grassland coverage and built up/bare areas on the other hand increased throughout the study period for the two study areas. While the improvement in the vegetation cover could partly be attributed to tourism development at Wli Waterfalls, the decline at Lake Bosomtwi could however not be attributed to tourism development alone. Anthropogenic activities such as farming and expansion in settlements could also be responsible. Social survey and observations made indicates that the residents in communities around Wli Waterfalls do perceive tourism development to be having more positive effects than negative ones on their environmental and economic activities. Residents from communities around Lake Bosomtwi on the other hand perceive tourism development to be having more negative effects than positive ones on their environment. They also believed that economic benefits from tourism development are very minimal. The varied perceptions from the residents in two study areas may be due to the fact that tourism development at the Wli Waterfalls is still at the euphoria stage of Doxey‟s Irridex Model while that of Lake Bosomtwi is at the apathy stage. Responds from residents indicates that residents do not play any meaningful role in the management of tourism resource in their communities and that at best they are at the manipulation level on the ladder of citizen participation. Despite the concerns raised by residents, especially those from Bosomtwi, on the perceived negative effects of tourism on their environment and economic activities,Item An Assessment of Residents’ Housing Satisfaction and Coping in Accra, Ghana(Springer, 2011) Baiden, P.; Arku, G.; Luginaah, I.; Asiedu, A.B.Aim: The present paper is an original research that explores housing satisfaction and residents’ ability to cope with day-to-day demands, taking into account other dimensions of housing and socio-demographic factors. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional survey (n=562) was randomly administered to residents in three neighbour-hoods (Labone, Asylum Down and Nima) in Accra, Ghana. The association between the outcome variables and housing attributes were analysed using logistic regression. Results: The findings indicate that housing satisfaction was significantly predicted by age, with older people more likely to be dissatisfied with their housing arrangement. Respondents were dissatisfied with housing arrangements if they lived in Nima [odds ratio (OR) =2.75, p<.001], Asylum Down (OR=1.72, p<.01), crowded households (OR=1.158, p<.05) or in compound houses (OR=2.50, p<.001). In the context of housing attribute variables, respondent’s ability to cope with day-to-day demands was significantly associated to their income level. Odour annoyance as an indicator of housing condition emerged as a strong predictor of respondent’s inability to cope with daily demands with OR ranging from 1.68 to 2.33. Those who were dissatisfied with the location of their home as a place to live also reported poor coping abilities (OR=1.86, p<.01). Discussion and conclusions: From the findings, government policy on housing should encourage the construction of more affordable housing units to ease the crowding situation in Accra. There is also a need for the Accra City Council to provide clearer guidelines for both tenants and landlords in response to increasing tenancy disputes in context.Item Assessment of the Water Quality of the Oti River in Ghana(Ecological Laboratory, University of Ghana, 2009) Abdul-Razak; Asiedu, A.B.Oti river, an important tributary of the Volta lake in Ghana, was chosen as a case study to investigate the variations in the quality of its water at different locations. This was necessitated by the people’s reliance on the river for their domestic and agricultural water use. Composite water samples drawn from some sections of the Oti river were analysed in the laboratory for certain parameters to enable assessment of water quality. The observed results of the laboratory analyses are compared with the 2003 Ghana Raw Water Criteria and Guidelines for domestic use. The results indicated that turbidity, total iron, faecal coliforms and total coliforms were above the limits set out by the 2003 Ghana Raw Water Criteria and Guidelines for domestic use. Thus, the water from Oti river was considered unsuitable for direct human consumption at the sampled locations. Using the Water Quality Index (WQI) Calculator 1.0, the WQI for Oti river was calculated to be 39.3. The WQI indicates that water quality in the Oti river was poor. This implies that the water quality is almost always threatened or impaired; conditions usually depart from natural or desirable levels. Public awareness with respect to the need to boil and/or filter the water before drinking is called for. Sanitary facilities to control river pollution and appropriate water treatments techniques are required in the area to improve the welfare of the riparian dwellers.Item The contribution of non-cash remittances to the welfare of households in the Kassena-Nankana District, Ghana(Taylor & Francis Group, 2021) Apatinga, G.E.; Asiedu, A.B.; Obeng, F.A.This study examined the flow of non-cash remittances in the Kassena-Nankana District in Ghana. Twenty in-depth interviews were held with recipients (respondents) of non-cash remittances and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that non-cash remittances were in the form of foodstuff and electronic appliances and they were used for various purposes. The perspectives and experiences of respondents indicate that these transfers contribute significantly to improving household welfare. Thus, establishing institutional policies to facilitate the flow of non-cash remittances will not only benefit recipients but can also contribute to the socio-economic development of receiving countries through taxation.Item Conversion of Residential Units to Commercial Spaces in Accra, Ghana: A Policy Dilemma(Routledge, Taylor and Francis, 2012) OOSTERBAAN, C.; Arku, G.; Asiedu, A.B.Over the past three decades, Ghana’s economy has been subjected to tremendous macroeconomic reform programmes. The reforms in the national economic system were reflected almost immediately on the urban landscape. One such change is widespread land-use conversion, mainly from residential to commercial spaces. This study examines the major forces driving conversion, processes involved in conversion, conflicts with existing land uses, and their impact on the urban-built environment and the livelihood of actors involved. The study involves 39 in-depth interviews with key informants, with strategic reports and documents used to contextualize interview results. The findings indicate that the conversion of residential to commercial units is widespread, and that it is the result of several factors, including the desire to improve economic opportunities in light of growing uncertainty, the mismatch between demand and supply for retail spaces, infrastructural development and redevelopment, and interest in expanding population and entrepreneurial activities. The conversion process is occurring informally, and many businesses that operate in the converted properties are small scale. Findings indicate planning implications associated with the conversion process and offer suggestions to address them.Item The Geography of Tourism in Ghana(2013-12-09) Asiedu, A.B.Tourism, which is increasingly viewed as an attractive development option for many parts of the developing world, has been studied by an increasing number of academic disciplines even though no widely accepted interdisciplinary field of tourism studies has yet been defined. While recognising the contributions of other disciplines to the subject matter of tourism however, geographers have been found to make distinct and significant contributions. Travelling from one’s place of normal residence to a distant location where tourism experience transpires involves spatial interaction which is a major and pivotal theme in geographical studies. Inspite of the growing recognition and importance of geography in tourism studies, not much attention has been given to it even in the wider fields of academic geography. It is against this background and the limited local materials on the topic that have necessitated the need for this chapter on the Geography of Tourism in Ghana. The chapter is organized under five (5) sections. The first section is the introduction section and this is followed in section two with a discussion on the concept of tourism. The third section deals with the subject matter of tourism whiles the fourth section is devoted to a discussion on geography of tourism in Ghana. The final section is on study conclusions and an agenda for future studies on geography of tourism in Ghana.Item Housing and health in three contrasting neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana(Elsevier, Social Science & Medicine, 2011) Arku, G.; Luginaah, I.; Mkandawire, P.; Baiden, P.; Asiedu, A.B.Although the literature on housing and health is extensive, most research comes from developed countries. Relatively little work on the topic has been done in developing countries such as Ghana where socio-economic and cultural characteristics are generally different. This paper reports on primary research that investigates the relationship between housing and self reported general and mental health in Accra, Ghana. The study focused on how the social and economic dimensions of housing, specifically, demand, control and material attributes (affordability, dwelling type) influence individuals’ attachment to their home as a refuge for daily living. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a randomly selected sample (n ¼ 562) in three contrasting neighbourhoods. Overall, housing conditions, demand and control residents have to where they live, emerged as significant predictors of self reported general and mental health status. The influence of these variables superseded well known correlates of health status, income and educational attainment, attesting to their importance in a worsening housing environment. The findings point to the need for policy that recognizes that housing is not only a physical shelter but also an important health resource.Item Impacts of Ghana’s Bui dam hydroelectricity project on the livelihood of downstream non-resettled communities(Springer Tokyo, 2018-06) Owusu, K.; Asiedu, A.B.; Yankson, P.W.K.; Boafo, Y.A.Ghana’s socio-economic development, since independence, has been driven by the Akosombo and Kpong dams that provide water (for domestic, agriculture and industrial use) and hydroelectricity. It was hoped that with these past experiences, the Ghana government would be in a better position to manage the livelihood issues of the newly built Bui hydroelectricity dam better. Using a modified political ecology framework, this study examined the implications of the Bui dam project on the livelihoods of the downstream communities, which have received limited scholarly attention. Results from 158 household questionnaire interviews, corroborated by in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and focus group discussions indicate a complete lack of compensation package of any form for affected downstream communities. Fishing and farming, the dominant livelihood strategies of the households interviewed, have become unproductive and unsustainable leading to reduced incomes. Additionally, the unregulated activities of small-scale gold miners (galamsey) in the river bed which were made possible after the Bui dam’s construction were cited by most interviewees and focus group discussants for its negative impacts on human and ecological health. In a nutshell, existing livelihoods systems of downstream non-resettled communities post the Bui dam construction have been severely disrupted. Addressing the present challenges facing downstream communities in an integrative and participatory manner should be the top priority of the dam planners and implementers especially the Bui Power Authority and the District Assemblies. © 2018 Springer Japan KK, part of Springer NatureItem The Livelihood Challenges of Resettled Communities of the Bui Dam Project in Ghana and the Role of Chinese Dam-builders(Wiley, 2017) Yankson, P.W.K.; Asiedu, A.B.; Owusu, K.; Urban, F.; Siciliano, G.Emerging issues from the Bui hydropower project suggest that the experiences of two earlier hydropower projects in Ghana failed to prevent challenges related to resource access and livelihoods. This article examines the nature of the challenges, their causes, why they were not avoided and the role of the Chinese builders. We conducted 43 interviews and 11 focus group discussions and analyzed qualitative data by themes using narrative analysis. Our findings show that the livelihoods of the resettled communities are, on balance, negatively impacted by the construction of the dam. While Chinese dam‐builders played a major role in financing and enabling the dam's construction, the Ghanaian governance arrangements were found to be more important in addressing the livelihood challenges.Item The nexus between agriculture and tourism in Ghana: a case of underexploited development potential(Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2011) Asiedu, A.B.; Gbedemah, T.K.Item Not Just Visiting – Towards Leveraging Tourism for Enhanced National Development in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2014-12-04) Asiedu, A.B.Item Participant Characteristics and Economic Benefits of Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) Tourism – International Survey with Implications for Ghana(John Wiley and Sons, 2008) Asiedu, A.B.This article surveys the literature on visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism, identifying and describing its variant forms and the main characteristics of participants. This characterisation involves a discussion on socio-demographic and economic traits as well as travel characteristics of VFR trip makers. The study further reviews VFR tourism’s economic contributions to destination areas with specific focus on foreign exchange earnings, local revenue mobilisation, multiplier effects of tourism expenditures and employment generation. This background review provides the basis for assessing the possibilities for developing a viable and sustainable VFR tourism in Ghana by highlighting and evaluating critical factors such as seasonality of VFR tourists inflows, income leakages, host and guest relationships, and destination image. Appropriate recommendations based on the above insights have been provided to enhance Ghana’s competitive edge in the promotion of this tourism category.Item Post-dam construction and livelihood revitalization of affected communities at Ghana's Bui dam(Natural Resources Forum, 2023) Owusu, K.; Obour, P.B.; Asiedu, A.B.; et al.Evidence around dam building worldwide has revealed that the impacts of dam projects can affect the livelihoods of the project-affected people worse off several years after the dam is commissioned. Despite six decades of Ghana's dam-building experience, there is paucity of information on the impact of new programs implemented during post-dam construction on local livelihoods. This study filled in the gap by examining whether the new livelihood enhancement programs introduced by the Bui Power Authority (BPA) at the Bui dam have revitalized local livelihood activities that had been disrupted by the dam construction and resettlement processes. Explorative qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and field observation in the seven resettled communities at Bui and Jama Resettlement Townships and in three non-resettled communities at the Bui Dam area, including the host community. Purposive sampling was used to select a total of 130 participants for the KIIs and FGDs. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis approach. The results showed that, in general, the new livelihood support programs in the resettled communities, such as cage aquaculture production, weaving, and pottery have positively impacted the socioeconomic livelihood activities of the residents in recent years compared to the period soon after resettlement. However, low crop yields are due to poor soil fertility, small farmlands, and a lack of appropriate equipment to fish on the open water, and land compensation delays werereported to be undermining the livelihood revitalization efforts of the BPA. For effective revitalization of socioeconomic livelihood activities, the new programs should be more inclusive to cover the elderly, the host community, and possibly the neighboring communities instead of its current tilt toward the youth and the resettled communities. The findings showed the persistent impacts of dams on local population and highlighted how livelihood programs could revitalize local socioeconomic livelihood activities. The study contributed to addressing the conceptual question on whether it is possible for livelihood activities of project-affected people to be reconstructed several years after disruptionItem Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities in the Identification and Development of Cultural Heritage: An Asanteman-World Bank Initiative(Indiana University Press, 2009) Asiedu, A.B.; Labi, K.A.; Osei-Tutu, B.This paper discusses the identification and documentation of Asante heritage assets in an initiative between the World Bank and the Asanteman Council, the traditional governing authority of the Asante people of Ghana. The paper develops a documentation model based on recommended international standards for safeguarding this patrimony. The authors make proposals for engaging and strengthening traditional authorities and other stakeholders in the documentation, valuation, and preservation of Asante heritage. In addition, they make recommendations for the creation of appropriate institutions and strategies to use these assets for wealth creation and development and its replication elsewhere.Item The Rise of Gated Housing Estates in Ghana: Experiences from three Communities in Metropolitan Accra, Ghana(Springer, Taylor and Francis, 2009) Asiedu, A.B.; Arku, G.In metropolitan Accra, Ghana’s economic and administrative hub, the global phenomenon of the gated housing estate is burgeoning, representing a substantial part of the new housing market. It has a recent history dating back only to the neoliberal era of the mid-1990s. Because it is a new phenomenon in Ghana very little is known about the motivations and contentment of residents, interactions within and outside the gates, and perceptions toward gated residents. This paper takes the first step by providing empirical insights from three communities (Manet Court, Devtraco Villas, and Regimanuel Estate) located in Metropolitan Accra. The data suggest that perceived concern for security is the primary motivation for the residents to live in these communities. Contrary to findings of other studies, the current research reveals that there are appreciable levels of interaction among the residents in these communities, although such interaction exists purely on the economic level, with gated housing estates providing a considerable level of low-income employment opportunities to surrounding residents. The paper concludes by identifying some of the key urban planning challenges that have so far accompanied gated housing development.Item Socio-economic perspectives of off-reserve forest management in the Goaso Forest District of Ghana(Woeli Publishing Services, 176pp, 2007) Attua, E.M.; Ardayfio-Schandorf, E.; Yankson, P.W.K.; Asiedu, A.B.; Agyei-Mensah, S.Item Socio-economic perspectives of off-reserve forest management in the Goaso Forest District of Ghana Fringe Communities of the Goaso Forest District. In: Physical and Human Geography of the Goaso Forest District(Woeli Publishing Services, pp. 9-24, 2007) Attua, E.M.; Asiedu, A.B.; Agyei-Mensah, S.Item Some Perspectives on the Migration of Skilled Professionals from Ghana(Indiana University Press, 2010) Asiedu, A.B.In the last four decades or so, transnational movements of both skilled and unskilled labour from developing countries to the advanced industrial economies have witnessed an unprecedented growth. Fuelled largely by deteriorating livelihood conditions in the developing world and increasing demand for wealthy and highly skilled professionals in the developed economies, these movements have attracted a lot of research attention and public policy discourses on the ‘pros and cons’ of such movements. Like others, Ghana has had a long history of movement of her nationals to various parts of the world for various reasons. However there appears to be a policy void on ways for enhancing these benefits for Ghana and this paper contributes to filling this gap. The paper discusses the merits and demerits associated with the transnational movements of Ghanaian Health and Educational professionals and proposes ways for enhancing the benefits associated with these movements for Ghana. It also suggests pathways for aiding future migration policy formulation in Ghana.Item A Study of "Kwahu Easter" Festival as a Tourism Hallmark Event(University of Ghana, 2013-06) Kate, G; Asiedu, A.B.; Gyekye, K.A.In Ghana, the tourism sector is plagued with monotonous products, and these require urgent diversification. The questions have always been: diversify to where and with what new products? This study proposed an answer: diversify to hallmark events and to cultural tourism products. There is the need to package some of our popular, established, indigenous, traditional festivals as tourism hallmark events, to diversify Ghana‟s tourist product offering, and by large improve her domestic and international tourist earnings. Traditional festivals abound in all the ten regions of the country. If these festivals are structured and packaged well, it can be used to promote tourism. One such festival is the “Easter Festival” by the Kwahus. This festival has now taken a national and international dimension due to the touristic activities such as paragliding which was recently introduced into the festival. Before festivals and special events can be used to diversify tourism industry in the country, there is the need to determine the perceptions and the attitude of the residents in the host region. In this study it was observed that socio- economic variables (age, gender, and education), personal benefits derivation and level of involvement in the festival shaped residents‟ perception in negative and positive manner. One implication of these findings is that the factors that shaped negative perceptions and attitudes could be addressed through education. It was also discovered that, there are many socio-economic benefits associated with the festival such as employment, income generation and so on. Moreover, evidence gathered reveals that, the area has many potential tourist products associated with KEF which could be developed to promote tourism in the country. Again, it was revealed that motives of festival tourists vary in relation to country of origin. Most of the foreign tourists attended the festival as experts in paragliding who wanted to witness and participate in paragliding. It was also discovered that paragliding was the main touristic activity that drew much people both locally and internationally to the festival. The relevance of the findings is that there is abundant wealth of tourist products in Ghana which have not been fully developed or branded to promote social and economic growth; this can be achieved through integrating tourist issues into policy formulation and promotions of private participation in tourism development.