Ghana Social Science Journal

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://197.255.125.131:4000/handle/123456789/7515

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    Climate Variability and Communities' Vulnerability along Ghana's Coastline
    (Ghana Social Science Journal, 2020-06) Poku-Boansi, M.; Amoako, C.; Owusu-Ansah, J.K.; Cobbinah, P.B.
    Over the last three decades, communities along Ghana's coastline have been affected by storm surges, coastal floods and erosion from relatively less predictable hydro meteorological hazards and disasters. Using selected coastal communities in the Keta municipality, this study explores the vulnerabilities of coastal communities in Ghana and the effectiveness of emerging adaptation interventions. Evidence for the study was gathered through a review of relevant secondary documents: a household survey: focus group discussions and institutional consultations. The paper reveals several hydro meteorological risks (e.g., shoreline erosion, storm surges) which threaten the inundation of some communities and the destruction of infrastructure and coastal resources. While there is evidence of adaptive governance in terms of institutional efforts (construction of sea defence wall), there is limited state commitment towards climate change adaptation and poor local community engagement. State interventions require co-ordinated and sustained efforts from national and local level institutions to ensure adaptation and resilience to coastal vulnerability.
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    ''People have been Paid to Sweep the Place!"- Exploring the Antecedents of Littering Behaviour in Ghana.
    (University of Ghana, 2020-06) Amankwah-Poku, M.
    This study explored why Ghanaians litter their environment indiscriminately in spite of its adverse consequences. Twelve students from the University of Ghana were interviewed and the data analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged, reflecting participants' 1) Knowledge concerning littering, 2) Reasons why they litter their environment and 3) Ways of curbing littering. Participants knew what littering was but still littered their environment because, among other things, they did not feel responsible for the proper disposal of litter, littering felt like "it's part of you". titter begets littering and there were no bins or none close by. It is important that individuals are educated on the dire consequences of littering and that the government enforces the laws governing littering. Reward and punishment systems should be instituted to acknowledge clean communities and enforce penalties in unclean communities.
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    'Westernizing, Solid Waste Management Practices in Accra, Ghana - a Case of 'Negotiated Waste Collection'
    (University of Ghana, 2020-06) Oteng-Ababio, M.; Nikoi, E.
    Managing solid waste in Ghana remains a critical challenge. To date, attempts to remediate the problem using 'best practices' prototype from Western countries have yielded elusive responses in low-income communities where such models are incompatible with local development trajectories. While city authorities remain defiant to this policy mismatch, the environmental and health Implications associated with the practice are mounting in urgency. Using Accra, the national economic and administrative hub, as a case study, we argue that waste policy designed to reduce unsanitary conditions can be counter-productive if it ignores context-specific complexities. Contrary to popular wisdom, this paper argues that there is no 'one size fits all' answer for the quest for an efficient, effective, and affordable waste management system. Instead, each solution must be tailored to its specific social, cultural, and political context, with the direct involvement of service beneficiaries, and integrated with indigenously derived strategies. While not a cure-all 'solution,' the paper is optimistic that this kind of publicly engaged process can provide some understanding and create approaches for coping with waste management complexity.
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    A Decade of Oil Discovery in Ghana: Implications for Politics and Democracy
    (Ghana Social Science Journal, 2020-06) Graham, E.; Gyampo, R.E.V.; Tuokuu, F.X.D.
    Ghana discovered oil in June 2007 and commenced production in December 2010 under a peaceful democratic political order that is being hailed by all across the world as a beacon of hope. Based on a desktop review, this paper examines how oil affects politics and democratic development in Ghana. It argues that even though there are efforts to protect Ghana from the 'oil curse' or potential adverse socio-economic effects of oil production, conscious efforts have not been made to check the possible impact of oil production on the nation's democratic gains. Consequently, oil production has resulted in tendencies that undermine democratic development, including politics of resource-patronage; high spending on social services such as infrastructure; high borrowing that increases national debt; and high corruption and perception of corruption and security threats. The paper concludes with some theoretical and policy implications of the findings for oil-producing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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    Urban Sprawl and Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Accra and Kumasi Urban regions
    (Ghana Social Science Journal, 2020-06) Yiran, G.A.B.;